10-2: The whole warps the sum of its parts

The Whole Warps the Sum of Its Parts: Gestalt-Defined-Group Mean Size Biases Memory for Individual Objects

Summary:

​The Article, “The Whole Warps the Sum of Its Parts: Gestalt-Defined-Group Mean Size Biases Memory for Individual Objects” by Jennifer E. Corbett, describes an experiment that was conducted to test how Gestalt’s grouping theory (human tenancy to put things into groups) would affect memory. The introduction to the research study talked about how the brain is able to perceive more information through sorting visual stimuli into groups. The idea of perceptual averaging gives a logical explanation as to why we are able to see things that are maybe past our peripheral viewpoint. The article states that, “…perceptual averaging, an efficient means of statistically compressing redundant information in sets of objects, is a promising strategy for coping with the visual system’s limiter representational capacity. For example, average properties are represented even when individual items are not.” Our mind puts things that we see into groups to make information easier to process. Gestalts four heuristics (types of grouping) are similarity, proximity, connectedness, and common region. This experiment tested how these four heuristics affected people’s ability to remember information.

The test was conducted on thirty-three volunteer participants between the ages of 19 and 29, with normal or corrected to normal vision. Participants were put in a controlled environment in front of a computer. They were then shown a diagram of a series of circles for 500 milliseconds or 5 seconds. Each of these series were organized according to one of Gestalt’s four heuristics. The circles were then removed and replaced with 6 different circles. After this brief exposure, participants were asked to, “Adjust each test circle to match the size of the corresponding circle in the study display.” Participants then adjusted the size and position of the 6 circles to match what they remembered from the diagram that they were previously presented. They were told that, “each circle could be adjusted only once and that they had to adjust every test circle before they would be able to proceed to the next trial.” They were also told that they needed to respond as quickly and as accurately as they could; however, they were not told that they could had to adjust the circle at least three times. This was to prevent participants from continuing to the next trial without adjusting a circle. 

The results of this experiment showed that, “Error similarity was greater for circles within the same gestalt-defined groups than for circles within different gestalt defined groups.” People had the tenancy to make mistakes when the exposed diagram was in a different gestalt-defined group than the one prior to it. The amount of conditioning time did not seem to affect the results which was quite unexpected. The conclusion of the experiment stated that gestalt-groupings had a significant impact on memory.

Why I Chose This Article:

​Recently, we have been talking about learning and memory in class. I find Gestalt’s research to be particularly interesting which is why I chose to study this research experiment. We as humans have natural tenancies to do certain things (natural reflexes) and putting things into groups just happens to be one of them. I have always been a rather organized person when it comes to schoolwork and I like grouping my assignments, using planners, etc. I have always been a list maker and the idea of putting things into groups makes sense to me. 

​I chose to use the Psychological Science Journal because it seemed to be most applicable to this class and to this assignment. I also like how the journal is formatted. It is easier to read because of the double column formatting and allows for easy highlighting and notetaking. There are also minimal spelling and grammar errors which is a problem in some of the other journals I have read.

Application:

​I think that this idea can extend further than just helping our brain to see things easier. It can affect the way we remember people, events, or important objects. Grouping can either be beneficial to our lives, or can lead to unnecessary judgement. For example: Is it good to be suspicious of someone who may cause you harm, or is it bad to be suspicious of someone just because they fit a stereotype that we have developed? Our society thrives on stereotypes and depending on the situation, it can be good or bad. For the people who fit the stereotype as dangerous, or “sketchy,” it may be hard to live in a society so focused on stereotypes.

​This idea of grouping can be helpful in helping with memory of events. For example: it is easier to recall what happened on a special occasion than what happened on another ordinary day because the special occasion is different. We tend to group all the days where not much happens together. This is why many people can’t remember what they had for breakfast yesterday, but can remember which pair of shoes they were wearing when they got engaged. It is because of grouping, that we are able to recall important events or details.

What I learned

​While looking closer at this study, I have learned that our brain uses grouping to process information quickly and efficiently. It is because of this grouping that we often make errors based on what we see alone. As the title of the study says, “The whole warps the sum of it’sparts.” The study showed that gestalt-grouping has a significant impact on memory and is an important factor to knowledge recollection.

10-1: The road to bribery and corruption

Hello Internet! 

This week I have decided to branch out a bit from my original topic and write about some research studies in a journal I have been reading lately about the behavioral sciences. I hope you enjoy. 

The Road to Bribery and Corruption: Slippery Slope or Steep Cliff?

Summary:

​The Article, “The Road to Bribery and Corruption: Slippery Slope or Steep Cliff?” by members of the Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology in Vrije UniversiteitAmsterdam, describes an experiment that was conducted to test whether, “…severely corrupt acts happen gradually or abruptly. Corruption is defined as, “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain” and is not uncommon among our politicians and business owners. It is commonly believed that, “power holders progressively neglect the interests of other individuals while pursuing selfish interests and thus “slide into” corruption.” After 4 different rounds of testing, the conclusion was made that although people may think that corruption is a result of a “slippery slope,” corruption actually occurs when someone is given the chance to commit a severe act for personal gain.

​This study was conducted in four different rounds to test whether the participants were susceptible to corruption. In all rounds, participants played the corruption game. This game is useful for putting the slippery slope analogy to the test because it tests the participants ability to resist temptation that can lead to corruption. Round one tested, “whether severe corruption is more likely to emerge gradually or abruptly.” Round two tested, “whether the repeated engagement or the increasing severity of the slippery slope would keep participants from engaging in a second corrupt position.” Round three tested to see if the same results would occur if, “participants received a monetary payoff at the end of the game.” The final round of the experiment included a real victim of the corrupt behavior. This was to see if emotion played a factor in corruption. All four studies showed that the odds of severe bribery were significantly higher when the participants of the experiment used this option immediately instead of doing it gradually.

Why I Chose This Article:

​Because of the recent election, political tension in our country has been heavy. I was interested in looking into this research subject because I have always been fascinated by human nature and virtue. I took Political Science 1100 last semester and my favorite thing that we learned was how people work in the government. I was reading something somewhere that said that humans aren’t computers; they have emotions, they have feelings, and people with emotions and feelings are susceptible to corruption. A big part of what we learned in that class was based around “the good” and the argument of whether people are born “good” or not.

​I chose to look into the Psychological Science Journal because it seemed like a pretty much “all encompassing” psychology journal. There are articles on a variety of topics which ensured that I would find something up my ally. I also like how this journal is formatted. The double columns and clear diagrams, helping the reader to get a clear picture of the experiment described. There are also minimal spelling errors, grammar errors, and printing mistakes which also makes it easier to read.

Application:

​In today’s society, corruption is everywhere. It occurs on varying levels, from small business owners, to major politicians. When we hear about these cases of corruption in the news, it is often exaggerated or details are left out. It is important to always think critically about things shown on the news. 

​This research study also shows that everyone can be susceptible to corruption. When faced with a tempting offer, anyone can succumb and make less than ethical choices. Ordinary people were used in the four studies and in every situation, they found themselves corrupt in the end. They end up rationalizing their actions to the point that the guilt goes away and their conscience becomes almost invisible.

What I learned:

​While studying this article, I learned corruption occurs more often when someone is given the chance to engage in it at a large scale all at once rather than at a smaller scale over time. Corruption happens because, “people consistently seek to maximize material self-interest while maintaining a positive self-image.” I learned that I need to be careful who I trust and what business deals I get myself into.  

9-2: Medical Malpractice: Is My Treatment Really Safe?

            What is the first thing that comes across someone’s mind when they walk into a doctor’s office? Chances are, it is probably something along the lines of, “I wonder if I’m contagious?” or “I hope it’s not broken!” Most of our society puts their trust into medical professionals in order to treat sickness and disease; however, there is a small percentage of the population that takes extreme caution when seeking treatment, or even avoids treatment altogether. Medical malpractice is defined by Medical News Today as, “. . . professional negligence by a health care professional or provider in which treatment provided was substandard, and caused harm, injury or death to a patient.” (Nordqvist) When medical malpractice cases are shown in the media, it can cause patients, as well as the general public, to be more hesitant about trusting professionals with their healthcare. Although medical malpractice is not an extremely common occurrence, it is still a valid cause for many people to become apprehensive about medical professionals and treatments.

One malpractice case that received national attention was the Paul Lozano case from the late 1980’s. In this case, Paul Lozano, who received treatment from Dr. Bean Bayog of Harvard psychology, committed suicide following a five-year treatment for depression and sexual abuse. Lozano began treatment with Dr. Bean-Bayog in 1986 because he was suffering from depression. She assessed that Lozano had been sexually abused by his mother as a child and, although there was no evidence to prove her claim, concluded that the best option for treatment would be a method called Schema Therapy Limited Reparenting, a highly controversial form of therapy used to treat patients who were neglected or abused when they were younger. During the treatment period, Bean-Bayog reduced Lozano to “the emotional age of 3” in order to give him what his mother apparently never had. (Carpenter) In the process of the treatment, Bean Bayog became attracted to Lozano and had sexual relations with him as a part of his “treatment.” The treatment spanned a five-year period and once it had concluded, Lozano committed suicide.

            There are many speculations as to what might have happened and since Dr. Bean-Bayog never agreed to an interview and a lot of what we know about this case is based on her paperwork and the notes she took while she was working with Lozano. These documents were made public during the trial. After Lozano’s death, his family found notes from Dr. Bean-Bayog “addressed to "the boy" from "Mom."” (Carpenter) demonstrating how strange Dr. Bean-Bayog’s treatment was. There were also what appeared to be journal entries written by Dr. Bean-Bayog that detailed sexual relations between the doctor and her patient as part of Lozano’s “treatment.” To avoid a lengthy trial, Dr. Bean-Bayog agreed to a settlement and forfeited her license.

One reason that Lozano may have chosen to end his life is the fact that he might have still been at a three-year-old emotional state. A child can suffer separation anxiety when they are removed from the presence of their caregiver and Lozano may have had a similar reaction when treatment with Dr. Bean-Bayog was discontinued. It is speculated that the reason that Bean-Bayog became so invested with her patient in the first place was because she had not been able to have children. She had suffered nine miscarriages and saw Lozano as her chance at raising a child. “Sadly, one of the reasons she allegedly gave him for terminating therapy was that she had decided to adopt a baby of her own.” (Carpenter) He may have felt like he was being “replaced,” not realizing that the doctor was not actually his biological parent.

The Lozano case may be a cause of anxiety for others seeking treatment for sexual abuse because it shows that doctors and therapists are human, and therefore susceptible to temptations. The New York Times describes this situation in their article “Therapy or Seduction?” They say: “What safeguards, if any, exist to protect patients from a doctor's human frailty? Even by psychiatry's own vague standards, Ms. McNamara says, Dr. Bean-Bayog should have consulted her peers before undertaking such an unusual treatment.” (Carpenter) This case may also cause anxiety in young or expecting mothers who suffer from postpartum depression. As defined by The National Institute of Mental health, “Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth.” (NIMH) Women with postpartum depression tend to, “worry or feel overly anxious” after their baby is born and when someone suffering from postpartum depression hears about the Paul Lozano case, they may become overly obsessed with providing for their child because Lozano was “deprived” as a child. Some mothers may feel like they are also inadequate mothers. Even though the Lozano case is a “one in a million” type of situation, it was so heavily publicized that it instilled worry into many different groups of people.

Another widely known malpractice incident is the John/Joan case: a classic nature versus nurture scenario. In 1966, Bruce Reimer suffered a failed circumcision operation as a toddler and was raised as “Brenda” Reimer. This was a part of an experiment conducted by Dr. John Money from John Hopkins University, who wanted to prove that gender is only controlled by social and environmental values, not by biological makeup. The New York Times reports that, “His sexual reassignment was then widely reported as a success and proof that children are not by nature feminine or masculine but through nurture are socialized to become girls or boys.” (The Associated Press) However, time eventually proved this statement inaccurate as Brenda became increasingly different from the other children at school. After many years of living as a girl, Brenda’s parents finally told her the truth of her gender identity. At this point, Brenda changed her name to David and underwent a series of operations to restore his masculinity. David then lived as a man for twenty years, eventually committing suicide in 2004 at the age of 38. Dr. Money’s experiment, as described by The Los Angeles Times, “was a disaster for Reimer that created psychological scars he ultimately could not overcome.”  

When this case first became public, it was a heavy debate that caused a lot of political backlash. It was hard for people to believe that a medical professional had conducted such a potentially controversial and unethical experiment. It also proved to be upsetting to anyone who was dealing with their gender identity. Because the results of Dr. Money’s experiment proved that “biological factors can override gender role socialization.” someone struggling with their gender identity may become confused. When someone is constantly being told that they are one thing, but they feel like they are something totally different, it can be confusing and emotionally upsetting.

Another reason why the John/Joan case may cause people to become alarmed is the failed circumcision operation. The doctors had performed the procedure many times, but used an unconventional method on Bruce that resulted in serious damage to his body. Bruce’s experience proves that even when a doctor has performed a surgery hundreds of times, things can still go wrong. This idea causes anyone requiring surgery to become less enthusiastic about putting their body into someone else’s hands for even just a short period of time. There are nearly 160,000 deaths every year, caused by medical malpractice, definitely not a small number, especially to someone already having worries about an operation.

In the end, it all comes down to costs and consequences: Is it worth getting professional help when the consequences may be detrimental? In some cases the answer is yes, but some cases it may be no. For example: someone suffering from cancer is likely to get treatment because the risk of medical negligence is less important than treating this deadly illness. On the other hand, it isn’t necessary to consult a doctor about every little runny nose. It is important to thoroughly research the treatment, the doctor providing the treatment, and the risks involved with the treatment. Increased knowledge may help ease worries, and help patients live a healthy, stress free life.

Works Cited

"Anxiety Disorders and Anxiety Attacks."HelpGuide: Trusted Guide to Mental Health.

N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

Carpenter, Teresa. "The New York Times."The New York Times. N.p., 10 Apr. 1994.

Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

The Associated Press. "David Reimer, 38, Subject of the John/Joan Case."The New

York Times. N.p., 12 May 2004. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

Gammill, Marion B. "Bean-Bayog Case Ends After 6 Years."The Harvard Crimson. N.p.,

18 Dec. 1992. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

Grison, Sarah, Todd F. Heatherton, and Michael S. Gazzaniga.Psychology In Your

Life. 2nd ed. New York, London: W.W. Norton & Company, 2017. Print.

Grossman, Ron. "When A Psychiatrist Carries Treatment Too Far."Chicago Tribune.

N.p., 16 Mar. 1994. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

Nordqvist, Christian. "Medical News today."Medical News Today. N.p., 17 Sept. 2014.

Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

"Postpartum Depression."National Institute of Mental Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar.

2017.

"Schema Therapy Limited Reparenting."Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center. N.p., n.d.

Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

Schillo, Keith K. "Nature or Nurture: The Case of the Boy Who Became a

Girl."Sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu. National Center for Case Study Teaching In

Science, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

Woo, Elaine. "David Reimer, 38: After Botched Surgery, He Was Raised as a Girl in

Gender Experiment."LA Times. N.p., 13 May 2004. Web. 17 Mar. 2017.

9-1: Medical Malpractice - The Paul Lozano Case

Hello Internet!

Today’s post is something that directly ties into my “bigger” topic which is treating someone who doesn’t want to be treated. When someone who needs to be seeking treatment hears about these crazy medical malpractice cases, it can cause them to become apprehensive about treatment.  I’ve heard a lot in the media about these crazy medical malpractice cases and I find them extremely interesting. I recently came across an older case from the late eighties and early nineties regarding the “reparenting” treatment method. In this case, Dr. Bean-Bayog, a Harvard psychiatrist, was charged with medical malpractice for her patient Paul Lozano, who committed suicide following Bean-Bayog’s 5 year reparenting process.

            Lozano began treatment with Dr. Bean-Bayog in 1986. He was currently a medical student at Harvard University and sought treatment for major depression. She assessed that Lozano had been sexually abused by his mother as a child and concluded that the best option for treatment, would be reparenting. During the treatment period, Bean-Bayog reduced Lozano to a 3-year-old emotional state in order to “give him what his mother never had.” In the process of the reparenting, Bean Bayog became attracted to Lozano and had sexual relations with him as a part of his “treatment.” The treatment spanned a five-year period and once it had concluded, Lozano committed suicide.

            There are many speculations as to what might have happened and since Dr. Bean-Bayog never agreed to an interview, a lot of what we know is based on her paperwork and notes taken while she was working with Lozano. These documents were made public during the trial. Many of this paperwork includes love notes from Lozano to Dr. Bean-Bayog addressed to “Mom” which demonstrates how peculiar Dr. Bean-Bayog’s treatment really was. There were also what appeared to be journal entries detailing sexual relations between the doctor and her patient. Dr. Bean-Bayog agreed to a settlement and forfeited her license.

            So what is reparenting you ask? Schema Therapy Limited Reparenting is a highly controversial form of therapy used to treat patients who were neglected or abused when they were younger. The idea of schema’s, or stages of development across the lifespan, was developed by a scientist named Piaget. When a therapist treats someone using reparenting, they help the patient reach the Vulnerable Child Mode, one of the early schemas in Piaget’s system. Once in this mode, the patient can then be retaught, re-disciplined, and given things that they were deprived of as a child, such as parental attachment.

The Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center in Sacramento California explains on their website that limited reparenting refers to the therapist helping the patient to meet their early childhood needs and establishing a secure attachment with them. In order to develop properly, a child must receive love and nurturing from their caregiver and form an attachment. Without this attachment, children may develop problems with self-esteem and have other emotional problems later down the road.

One reason that Lozano may have chosen to end his life is the fact that he might have still been in vulnerable child mode. A child can suffer separation anxiety when they are removed from their caregiver and Lozano may have had a similar reaction when treatment with Dr. Bean-Bayog was discontinued. It is speculated that the reason that Bean-Bayog became so invested with her patient in the first place was because she hadn’t been able to have children. She had suffered nine miscarriages and saw Lozano as her chance at raising a child. Treatment was discontinued just after Bean-Bayog was able to adopt a baby which may be one of the reasons Lozano lost it. Maybe he felt like he was being “replaced,” not knowing that the doctor wasn’t actually his caregiver.

These factors are all things that need to be considered when looking at this case. Chances are, Lozano had no idea what kind of a situation he was really in. The letters that he wrote addressing Dr. Bean-Bayog as Mom, prove that he really had been reduced to a childlike emotional state. One article that I read said that someone undergoing a reparenting treatment is reduced to the emotional state of three. A three-year-old doesn’t exactly have much say as to what is going on around them or what they need to be cautious of emotionally. Lozano was reduced to a state of innocence and Dr. Bean-Bayog took advantage of that.

Thanks for reading and I hope you found this case as interesting as I did.

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/10/books/therapy-or-seduction.html

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1992/12/18/bean-bayog-case-ends-after-6-years/?page=1

http://cognitivebehaviortherapycenter.com/schema-therapy-california/schema-therapy-limited-reparenting/

7-2: Annotated Bibliography

Why We Choose Suicide. Perf. Mark Henick.TEDx. TEDx Toronto, 7 Aug. 2016.

Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

In, “Why We Choose Suicide,” a TEDx talk given at a conference in Toronto, Mark Henick shares his personal struggle with depression and suicide, and why suicide is so misunderstood. He argues that because suicide is a hard topic to discuss, it is often seen as a crime, even though it’s not. Henick explains in greater detail, what exactly goes through the mind of someone who is contemplating suicide. He shares detailed accounts of what happened to him when he was a teenager and relates that to current research and thoughts on suicide.

            Suicidal thoughts are something to watch for in anyone with a mental illness. It is important to not only understand what suicide is but why it happens. People who are contemplating suicide often don’t recognize what exactly is going on, or where they can go for help.

Energy Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2017, from http://www.lightness-ofbeing.com/energy-therapy.htm

In the article, “Energy Therapy,” an informational article written for Nancy Russell Energy Therapy, the author explains what energy therapy is, why it is beneficial, and the results that it produces. The article says that, Energy therapy is the gentle art of clearing cellular memory through the human energy field promoting health, balance, and relaxation.” Some of the benefits of energy therapy include the release of tension, “a renewed sense of vitality,” and a boosted level of balance in the life of the patient.

Energy therapy is an extremely controversial method of treatment and is not approved by the FDA, nor covered by most insurance plans. It does claim to benefit multiple aspects of life and for some, can be helpful for the treatment of mental illness.

Kemp, Charlotte. "The woman with 20 personalities in one body: An anorexic teen

and a boy who writes in Latin. They all take over Kim's mind in a case that's baffled experts Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2042663/The-woman-20-personalities-body-case-thats-baffled-experts.html. The Daily Mail, 27 Sept. 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.

The news site, The Daily Mail, recently published an article entitled, “The woman with 20 personalities in one body: an anorexic teen, and a boy who writes in Latin. They all take over Kim’s mind in a case that’s baffled experts.” This article, written by Charlotte Kemp, tells the story of Kim Noble: a woman with a rare case of dissociative identity disorder. She has over 20 separate personalities and on any given day, will switch between these personalities without warning. This is one of the most severe cases of dissociative identity disorder ever recorded.

Dissociative identity disorder can be hard to treat because you aren’t just treating one person. For treatment to be successful, all of the personalities can be considered. In a case as severe as Kim Nobles, treatment is extremely difficult or even impossible.

Ballas, Chris, M.d. “Treating Someone Who Doesn’t Want Treatment.” Health

Central. 15 Oct. 2006. Web. 9 Feb. 2017.

In the article “Treating Someone Who Doesn’t Want Treatment,” The author argues that the best way to convince someone to get treatment for a mental illness is to get a big group of friends and family to tell them that they need treatment. He lists some of the problems with trying to treat mental illness, and why many patients don’t want to seek treatment. There are many legal implications when trying to get treatment for someone who needs it and Ballas lists what can and can be done legally.

This article gives some good insight on how to get treatment for loved ones who are resisting treatment.

"Bipolar Disorder."National Institute of Mental Health. NIMH, n.d. Web. 27 Feb.

2017.

In the informational article entitled, “Bipolar Disorder,” published by the National Institute of Mental Health, the author gives valuable information relating to Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder is a mental disorder that causes a person to have extremely high moments, and deep, depressive moments. Some of the symptoms include drastic mood changes, changes in personality, lack of appetite, or the inability to sleep. Bipolar disorder can be treated through various antidepressant medications and therapy.

Bipolar disorder is often mistaken for dissociative personality disorder and this source makes it clear that they are two separate disorders.

Renzo, S. (2014, November 7). Seven Red Flags for Depression. Retrieved March

2, 2017, from http://www.psyweb.com/articles/depression/seven-red-flags-

for-depression

            PsyWeb Depression & Mental Health Resource publishes informational articles on depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders. This article, titled “Seven Red Flags for Depression,” lists seven warning signs of depression. These red flags are loss of interest, sadness, sleep problems, changes in appetite, anger and irritability, loss of energy, or suicidal thoughts. The article states that if any of these symptoms are observed, it is critical to seek medical attention and receive a diagnosis.

            It is important to recognize the symptoms of depression so that treatment can be given before the condition worsens.

Depression (major depressive disorder). (2014, October 10). Retrieved March 2,

2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495?pg=2

            The Mayo Clinic recently published an article about exercise and depression. This article talks about the benefits of exercise in people with severe depression. It has been proven that, “Doing 30 minutes or more of exercise a day for three to five days a week may significantly improve depression symptoms. But smaller amounts of physical activity – as little as 10 to 20 minutes at a time – may make a difference.” To get started and stay motive, it is important to “Identify what you enjoy doing, get your mental health provider’s support, set reasonable goals, analyze your barriers, and prepare for setbacks and obstacles.

            Exercise is an important method of treatment for mental illness because it can seem less daunting than medications or psychotherapy. Some people who are resisting treatment, may be more willing to try exercise therapy.

Understanding Hospitalization for Mental Health. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2017,

from http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=urgent_

help_for_patients

In the article, ”Understanding Hospitalization for Mental Health” published by

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Organization, the author discusses important things to know about when you might need to go to the hospital for a mental illness. The author asks the following questions: When do I need to go to the hospital? How can hospitalization help? What do I need to know about the hospital? How can an advance directive or a medical power of attorney help me? How can I find people who understand? How can I be prepared for a crisis in the future? The author then addresses what will happen during the time in the hospital, and how to sustain wellness after hospitalization.

            This article is a useful reference guide for anyone who has a mental illness that might be progressing towards the point of hospitalization.

Seasonal Affective Disorder . (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2017, from

https://medlineplus.gov/seasonalaffectivedisorder.html

The article, “Seasonal Affective Disorder” on MedlinePlus.com, is an informational article that provides details on Seasonal Affective Disorder. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a mental health issue that causes depression in people during a certain time of the year. Seasonal affective disorder can affect people in both the winter and summer months. The symptoms of seasonal affective disorder are very similar to those of major depressive disorder and may include, but are not limited to, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, or loss of interest in activities usually found enjoyable.

Seasonal affective disorder is relatively common and it is important to recognize the symptoms so that it can be diagnosed before it gets out of hand.

"Postpartum Depression."National Institute of Mental Health. NIMH, n.d. Web. 3

Mar. 2017.

This source is the web version of a pamphlet all about postpartum depression. Postpartum depression happens in women who have just given birth and is a serious problem. Some of the symptoms include, “feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that may make it difficult for them to complete daily care activities for themselves or for others.” Postpartum depression happens due to a combination of physical and emotional factors. Postpartum depression can be treated using counseling, talk therapy, or medication. It is important to always consult a physician about the risks of taking a medication while breast feeding. Postpartum Depression affects many new mothers and can last for months, or even years if left untreated.

It can be hard for new mothers to admit that they have a problem which is why it is important to recognize the symptoms and watch for them in new mothers who are at risk for postpartum depression.

"Major Depression with Psychotic Features (Psychotic Depression)."Health Line.

HealthLine.com, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2017.

            In the article, “Major Depression with Psychotic Features (Psychotic Depression) on healthline.com, the causes, symptoms, and treatment of psychotic depression are listed. The article says that a person with psychotic depression experiences delusions or hallucinations as well as having all of the symptoms of major depressive disorder. Psychotic depression requires close monitoring by a mental health professional. There aren’t any FDA approved treatments for psychotic depression but a combination of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications have proven to be affective.

            Someone with psychotic depression may have no idea that they need help because they aren’t always sure what is real and what is not.

Berman, Carol W., MD. "Out of His Body: A Case of Depersonalization

Disorder." The Huffington Post. Thehuffingtonpost.com, 11 Sept. 2011. Web. 3 Mar. 2017.

In the article, “Out of His Body: A Case of Depersonalization,” the author, Dr.

Carol W. Berman, tells the story of Tony, a man who has suffered from depersonalization for over twenty years. Depersonalization disorder is a, “persistent or recurrent experience of feeling detached from, and as if one is an outside observer of, one’s mental processes or body.” Tony suffered from depersonalization but refuses to try any antidepressant or antipsychotic medications.

            Tony is a perfect example of someone resisting treatment. He knows that he needs help and he wants to get better, but he refuses to take the medications required to help him get to a better mental state. 

7-1: My Story

Hello Internet,

            Can I be completely honest with you? 100%? Okay good. I don’t want this information to spread further than required for this English assignment. Honestly, I never thought I would be writing this post. When I chose this topic, I told myself, “This topic is awesome because there is so much research to be done.” and “This topic can be strictly research. I don’t have to be personal at all.” The funny thing about the internet, is that there is so much information on it that if you don’t make it personal, it doesn’t stick. You will never make an impact with your writing if you don’t put a little bit of your soul into it. That’s what I’m doing today: giving you a little bit of my soul. I have struggled with anxiety for around five years, and depression for around three. I have tried medications, I have gone to therapy, I have literally tried everything to be happier but nothing seems to work. I am what they call one of the “difficult cases.”

My anxiety is heavily triggered by cars and when I started driving, it got progressively worse. When I was little, I used to have these dreams that I was in a car on a highway and I had no control over where I was going. I would have these dreams almost every night. I was by myself and I didn’t know how to drive, which was problematic considering I was on a highway. I would try so hard to get the car to stop but I always ended up losing control and crashing. This has caused some serious PTSD-like symptoms. I’m not even sure if it’s possible to have post-traumatic stress from dreams but that describes what I have pretty well. (Note to self: That would be a really interesting topic to research)

In my opinion, it is hard to describe an anxiety attack because no two are exactly the same and everyone experiences them differently. For me, I experience a variety of things from confusion and a raised heartbeat, to derealization or detachment from myself. It’s like I have no control over what I say or do. These attacks don’t happen very often but when they do, it can be very scary. Because they are so scarce, I almost forget what they feel like which is why it is so scary every time. 

On top of anxiety, I also suffer from major depression. (name of the diagnosis, not an adjective) I have had a hard time with friends throughout my life which has led to insecurities and a hard time thinking that I am good enough. I won’t go too deep into this because it is very personal to me.

One of my favorite quotes about this topic reads,

“Having anxiety and depression is like being scared and tired at the same time. It’s the fear of failure but no urge to be productive. It’s wanting friends, but hating to socialize. It’s wanting to be alone but not wanting to be lonely. It’s caring about everything then caring about nothing. It’s feeling everything at once, then feeling paralyzingly numb.”

I think that it’s interesting that although so many people in our society struggle with depression, yet it is rarely talked about. We are so insecure about what people might think of us that we bottle up our feelings, put on a mask, and go on with life even though all we want to do is crawl into a corner and cry. My philosophy tends to be fake it until you make it so I always make sure that I look put together. I think that if I look nice, people won’t be able to see how much I’m hurting on the inside.

It can be really hard to fake it until you make it. It is exhausting to always have to maintain this image of happiness. I am curious to know whose idea it was to start telling people that it wasn’t okay to show your feelings. When is it that children find out that it is socially unacceptable to tell people that you are sad? It makes me sick to think that these little kids reach a point where they are told that they can’t say what they are feeling. The human body is amazing and can do a lot of things, but mindreading isn’t one of those things.

I hope you enjoyed this post and enjoyed seeing a little bit of my insight on this issue. Thank you for reading J