| | | | | Epidemiologically personality disorders are much more |
| Mental illness is difficult. It is perhaps more difficult for | | | | common in women (ratio of 4:1) than men and there is |
| the one suffering from it rather than those who must | | | | often a history of some type of childhood trauma. |
| watch someone they know experience it. I do not | | | | Historically, it has been known to be very difficult |
| have a mental illness, rather, I have a family member | | | | treating personality disorders. The goal of any clinician |
| who suffers from it. They have for quite a few years | | | | is to minimize anger and hostility the person suffering |
| now. I can't even imagine how it must feel to suffer | | | | from such a disorder may feel. Many people who |
| from a mental issue, but I do know how it feels to be | | | | suffer from mental health problems such as peronality |
| the target of the person who does suffer from the | | | | disorders, are impulsive and often time have poor |
| issue. How does one fix the problem? Or can they? | | | | judgement or poor decision making skills. This has been |
| Mental health issues are not at all uncommon. Millions | | | | obvious to me since 2006 regarding this particular |
| of people around the world suffer from various forms | | | | family member. |
| of mental health issues. Some have been diagnosed | | | | So...can these issues be fixed? Is the person who |
| and are currently being treated, some have yet to be | | | | suffers from the above problems permanently |
| diagnosed and many refuse to be treated. According | | | | damaged? |
| to Dahlen and Deffenbacher (2001), there are various | | | | Things that can help someone who suffers from a |
| way to deal with mental health issues. One skill would | | | | mental health problem: |
| be relaxation coping skills, which target both the | | | | •Adequate communication between the family |
| emotional and physiological arousal associated with | | | | members, the clinicians and the patient; |
| anger...if the person is suffering from anger | | | | •if inpatient stay is required, there should be clear |
| management issues. The relaxation skill has the intent | | | | goals for why the person is admitted and what the |
| of lowering anger arousal. In contrast to targeting | | | | plans will be when it is time for discharge. Short stays |
| arousal, cognitive interventions target biases in | | | | are preferable and seem to help reduce dependence. |
| information processing and cognitive appraisals. | | | | The longer a patient remains an inpatient, the higher |
| When a family member suffers from a severe | | | | their risks for causing injury to themselves; |
| psychological disability, what do you do? How do you | | | | •firm limit setting – verbal and physical abuse is |
| cope with it? When is the right time to diagnose a | | | | never to be tolerated; Just because the person suffers |
| mental health problem and how is it diagnosed? I | | | | from a mental illness does not grant them a free ticket |
| receive the brunt of my family member's delusions and | | | | to abuse others. |
| scattered patterns of thinking by way of internet | | | | •be consistent – For example, if you have told |
| postings. Why exactly this family member has fixated | | | | the person that they will have to have a "time out" for |
| and obsessed with me for so many years thus far, is | | | | verbally abusing hospital staff or family members, then |
| really anyone's guess. Perhaps it is a part of the illness. | | | | they must have a "time out"; Actions speak louder than |
| I am aware that the severe psychological disability | | | | words. |
| causes much of the internet misconduct. I do know the | | | | •safety – removal of potentially harmful items |
| individual has been undergoing treatment for the | | | | such as knives, guns or any object that can be |
| psychological disability most of their "adult life". Perhaps | | | | considered a weapon, to reduce the possibility of |
| aging causes the illness to become worse over time? | | | | self-harm; |
| The thought processes of someone who suffers from | | | | •inform the community upon the person's discharge, |
| a mental impairment are dysfunctional and scattered. It | | | | as the majority of care is often outpatient; Lessen |
| is oftentimes impossible to have a logical dialogue with | | | | neighbors fears that the person may present a |
| someone who is mentally ill and mentally unstable. | | | | problem for their community. |
| A person with a personality disorder, clinical depression | | | | •it would also be helpful at this time to have a plan |
| or some other form of mental health issue, can be | | | | for further management, whether dialectic behaviour |
| incredibly charismatic, witty, enjoyable to be | | | | therapy, or for crisis intervention only. Speak with |
| around...even causing others no alarm that anything is | | | | doctors, clinicians and therapists regarding long term |
| even amiss. There seems to be an illness where an | | | | care or future plans. |
| individual's personality becomes split. Beware of the | | | | It is difficult to make a diagnosis regarding personality |
| person, however, who is overly effusive regarding | | | | disorder, prior to the age of 18 years, due to the other |
| your abilities or the abilities of others. If they have | | | | developmental changes occurring at this time. |
| grandios thoughts, scattered thinking and they are | | | | Reference articles |
| delusional. It can be a sign of splitting. | | | | (1) Borderline Personality Disorder. National Institute of |
| Splitting of personality can be very problematic, as | | | | Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, US |
| miscommunication is more like to ocur. Upon first | | | | Department of Health and Human Services. January |
| glance, a normal person may not even be aware of | | | | 2001 NIH Publication No. 01-4928. |
| what is happening. Over time, however, through | | | | (2) Finley-Belgrad E., Davies J. Personality Disorder: |
| conversations and even perhaps daily communicating, | | | | Borderline [electronic article]. Emedicine. Last updated 3 |
| scattered thought patterns...delusional thinking and | | | | May 2006. |
| conflicting statements will become more noticable. | | | | |