What is Schizotypal Personality Disorder?
Individuals who suffer from Schizotypal Personality Disorder don’t tend to have many close friends and often have a hard time understanding how their behaviors may impact those around them. In addition, they tend to not trust others because they often misinterpret others’ motivations and behaviors.
What are the symptoms of Schizotypal Personality Disorder?
In order for an individual to be diagnosed with Schizotypal Personality Disorder, 5 or more of the following symptoms must be present:
- Not having friends outside the immediate family (i.e. loner)
- Misinterpretation on events (i.e. something may be harmless, but they think it has a direct personal meaning)
- Eccentric or unusual thinking
- An individual may dress in a peculiar way (i.e. oddly matched clothes)
- An individual may have a strong belief in powers (i.e. telepathy)
- An individual may have unusual perceptions (i.e. seeing someone that is not there)
- An individual experiences social anxiety
- An individual has a peculiar style of speech (i.e. vague or rambling)
- An individual is often feeling suspicious and doubtful about the behavior of others
- An individual does not express much emotion, it is limited
Individuals who suffer from this disorder also have a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety, Schizophrenia, problems with alcohol or drugs, other personality disorders, and are more likely to attempt suicide. Also, they have a higher risk of having social, work, school, and relationship problems.
What is the difference between Schizotypal Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia?
Although individuals with Schizotypal Personality Disorder can experience brief psychotic episodes with delusions and hallucinations, the episodes are not as frequent or intense as they are with individuals with Schizophrenia. Also, individuals with such personality disorder are often aware of their delusions and can distinguish from reality whereas individuals with Schizophrenia cannot.
What causes Schizotypal Personality Disorder?
Although the cause is not yet known, it is believed that an individuals environment, brain functions, and genetics may play a role in the development of such disorder. Therefore, an individuals’ chances of developing such disorder is greater if they have a relative who suffers from it or any other psychotic disorder.
How is Schizotypal Personality Disorder treated?
Usually, an individual is treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
Psychotherapy:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Distorted thoughts are identified and then the therapist works with the individual to change the distorted thoughts and replace them with more rational ones
- Supportive Therapy
- Family Therapy
- Involving family may help reduce fighting or emotional distance
- Can help improve the trust at home
Medication:
Although there is not one approved medication to treat such disorder, doctors may prescribe the following to treat certain symptoms:
- Antipsychotic
- Mood stabilizers
- Antidepressant
- Anti-anxiety drug
What can I do to help myself cope with Schizotypal Personality Disorder?
- Develop a positive relationship with your loved ones
- Look at the achievements at school, work, or even in extracurricular activities
- Stick to your treatment
- Ask questions
- Educate yourself and loved ones on the subject
- Seek professional help
Posted: April 9, 2018 by VCCounseling
Schizophreniform Disorder
What is Schizophreniform Disorder?
Schizophreniform Disorder is categorized under the “Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders” in the DSM-V. Individuals who suffer from Schizophreniform Disorder have similar symptoms to those individuals who suffer from Schizophrenia HOWEVER, the symptoms for individuals with Schizophreniform Disorder last less than 6 months. An individual who suffers from this disorder is not able to tell the difference from what is imagined to what is real and is really happening. In addition, the individual has problems with the way that they think, act, the way they express their emotions, and how they relate to others.
Also, it is believed to be equally prevalent in both men and women however, it tends to affect men at a younger age. It is also important to note, that about 1 in 1,000 individuals suffer from Schizophreniform Disorder.
What are the symptoms of Schizophreniform Disorder?
In order for an individual to be diagnosed with Schizophreniform Disorder, at least 2 of the following symptoms must be present:
It is important to note that at least one of the symptoms needs to be hallucinations, disorganized speech, or delusions. In addition, an individual who suffers from such disorder tends to have difficulty living their normal life, conducting tasks at work or school for example.
What causes Schizophreniform Disorder?
Although the exact cause is not known, it is believed that genetics, brain function and/or structure, and the environment may play a role in the development of such disorder.
How is Schizophreniform Disorder treated?
How can I cope with Schizophreniform Disorder?
Posted: April 8, 2018 by VCCounseling
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
What is Schizotypal Personality Disorder?
Individuals who suffer from Schizotypal Personality Disorder don’t tend to have many close friends and often have a hard time understanding how their behaviors may impact those around them. In addition, they tend to not trust others because they often misinterpret others’ motivations and behaviors.
What are the symptoms of Schizotypal Personality Disorder?
In order for an individual to be diagnosed with Schizotypal Personality Disorder, 5 or more of the following symptoms must be present:
Individuals who suffer from this disorder also have a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety, Schizophrenia, problems with alcohol or drugs, other personality disorders, and are more likely to attempt suicide. Also, they have a higher risk of having social, work, school, and relationship problems.
What is the difference between Schizotypal Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia?
Although individuals with Schizotypal Personality Disorder can experience brief psychotic episodes with delusions and hallucinations, the episodes are not as frequent or intense as they are with individuals with Schizophrenia. Also, individuals with such personality disorder are often aware of their delusions and can distinguish from reality whereas individuals with Schizophrenia cannot.
What causes Schizotypal Personality Disorder?
Although the cause is not yet known, it is believed that an individuals environment, brain functions, and genetics may play a role in the development of such disorder. Therefore, an individuals’ chances of developing such disorder is greater if they have a relative who suffers from it or any other psychotic disorder.
How is Schizotypal Personality Disorder treated?
Usually, an individual is treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
Psychotherapy:
Medication:
Although there is not one approved medication to treat such disorder, doctors may prescribe the following to treat certain symptoms:
What can I do to help myself cope with Schizotypal Personality Disorder?
Posted: April 8, 2018 by VCCounseling
Hoarding Disorder
What is Hoarding Disorder?
Hoarding Disorder is categorized under Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders in the DSM-V and is an illness that makes individuals feel the need to collect things. Their need is so big that over time, the individuals house may be covered with these things, their tables, their couches, or their beds to say the least. For example, an individual may have the need to collect newspapers or clothing while another individual may have the need to collect dogs or cats. Also, some individuals may have a hard time getting rid of personal belongings because they may either feel personally attached to them or they feel that they will need them someday in the future. The need that an individual needs varies from person to person. In addition, the individual may feel ashamed of their behavior and may not accept it however, they cannot control it and the idea of getting rid of an item is truly upsetting.
Furthermore, it is believed that out of 100 people, 2 to 6 of those individuals will be diagnosed or will suffer from Hoarding Disorder.
IMPORTANT NOTE: A hoarder is different from a collector. A collector is usually proud of their collections and often displays them while a hoarder feels shame in their behavior.
What are the symptoms of Hoarding Disorder?
What causes Hoarding Disorder?
Although the cause is not known, genetics is believed to play a huge role. Also, it has been found that many people who are diagnosed with Hoarding Disorder, have also experienced a stressful or traumatic event. In addition, individuals who suffer from Hoarding Disorder, often suffer from depression or some kind of anxiety disorder or even Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
How is Hoarding Disorder treated?
What can I do for myself to help cope with Hoarding Disorder?
Posted: April 7, 2018 by VCCounseling
Dependent Personality Disorder
What is Dependent Personality Disorder?
Such disorder is considered to be part of the “Cluster C Personality Disorders,” in which an individual has an extreme reliance on other people to meet their emotion and/or physical needs. Such individuals often feel the need to be taken care of, which makes them have a submissive and clingy behavior. In turn, they often have a hard time separating from individuals and fear separation.
What are the symptoms of Dependent Personality Disorder?
What can Dependent Personality Disorder lead to?
What causes Dependent Personality Disorder?
Although the cause is not known, it is believed that individuals who may have experienced a chronic physical illness or separation anxiety disorder, are at higher risk. Also, if individuals experience an authoritarian or overprotective parenting style, their risks is also higher. Furthermore, individuals tend to develop such disorder during your adulthood or adulthood.
How is Dependent Personality Disorder treated?
If I have Dependent Personality Disorder, what can I do to help myself? How can I help someone that I know?
Posted: April 7, 2018 by VCCounseling
Delirium
What is Delirium?
Delirium is a type of Neurocognitive Disorder that causes a serious disturbance in mental abilities where an individual then experiences confused thinking and is not fully aware of what is going on in the environment.
What are the symptoms of Delirium?
Symptoms of this disorder tend to happen over a period of hours or within a few days.
The following are symptoms of reduced awareness of the environment:
The following are symptoms of cognitive impairment:
The following are symptoms of behavior change:
The following are symptoms of emotional disturbance:
An individual may experience the following:
It is important to note that symptoms tend to worsen during the night when the setting appears less familiar to the individual. However, it is also important to note that there are a variety of deliriums
Hyperactive Delirium:
Hypoactive Delirium:
Mixed Delirium:
What causes Delirium?
It is important to note, that sometimes no cause is found.
The following are factors that can increase the development of Delirium:
How is Delirium treated?
The primary step in treatment is to figure out whether there is an underlying cause such as medication. Once that is figured out, treatment will be developed to create the best environment for the individual for them to heal and calm the brain. However, medications are often used.
How can I help myself cope with Delirium?
Posted: April 3, 2018 by VCCounseling
Factitious Disorder
What is Factitious Disorder?
Factitious Disorder is believed to be a serious mental disorder in which an individual pretends to be sick, injured, or may exaggerate their symptoms to deceive others. Although the individual is aware that they are causing their symptoms or making them up, the do not know the reason as to why they are behaving the way that they are. Such individuals not only make up the symptoms, mimic or produce their illness or injury, but they can get to the point where they are tampering medical exams to be able to deceive those around them.
What are the symptoms of Factitious Disorder?
Individuals with Factitious Disorder often risk their lives in order for others to see them as sick. As a result, individuals may experience several complications such as injury, death, severe health problems from infection, unnecessary surgery, loss of organs when unnecessary surgery is performed, alcohol or drug abuse, and significant problems in daily life activities.
How do individuals fake their condition?
What causes Factitious Disorder?
Although a precise cause is not known, stressful life experiences and other psychological factors are believed to play a role in the development of such disorder.
What can increase the likelihood of the development of Factitious Disorder?
How is Factitious Disorder treated?
Treatment for such disorder is often difficult because individuals want to be in a sick role and have little interest for treating such symptoms, injuries, or illnesses. However, the following treatment options may be used to manage the condition:
What can I do for myself to help cope with Factitious Disorder?
Posted: April 1, 2018 by VCCounseling
Alzheimer’s Disease
Does your loved one or yourself have difficulty remembering things? Or they are often confused? Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive disease that potentially destroys memory along with other important mental functions. It is believed that Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of dementia, which in turn causes an individuals intellectual and social skills to decrease. In addition, it is the brain cells that die, which then cause an individuals ability to remember things to decrease.
What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease?
At first, an individual may only experience the following:
Although it is common for us to occasionally forget where we have left our keys or forget the name of colleagues that we may have just met, the ability that an individual with Alzheimer’s has to remember such things, only worsen and persist, which in turn affects their ability to work or socialize with others. Therefore, such individuals may experience the following:
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease tend to have a hard time concentrating, thinking, and especially multitasking. Such difficulties may then lead to an individual not being able to recognize or deal with numbers. Not being able to then conduct the minimal task can then lead an individual to experience one or some of the following:
What causes Alzheimer’s Disease?
Although the cause is not known nor is research clear, scientist’s belief that for most people, such disease is caused by genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors. In addition, it is believed that such disease damages and kills brain cells, and when looking at brains affected by such disease after the person has passed, scientists have found tangles and plaques in the brain. Furthermore, Alzheimer’s is not a part of normal aging, but the risk of an individual developing such disease does increase after age 65.
How is Alzheimer’s Disease treated?
How can I help myself or someone I know cope with Alzheimer’s Disease?
Posted: March 31, 2018 by VCCounseling
Delusional Disorder
What is Delusional Disorder?
Delusional disorder, previously known as Paranoid Disorder, is a mental illness in which an individual who suffers from such disorder, cannot tell reality from imagined. However, in order for an individual to be diagnosed with such disorder, delusions must have been present for at least a month (if not longer). Unlike Schizophrenia, Delusional Disorder does not tend to impair individuals functioning nor cause their behavior to be odd. Furthermore, it is believed to affect men and women equally and usually tends to appear later in life (i.e. late adulthood). It is important to note that there are various types of Delusional Disorders, including the following:
What are the symptoms of Delusional Disorder?
What causes Delusional Disorder?
Although the exact cause is not known, and it hasn’t been profoundly studied, it is believed that genetics may play a role. An individual who may have family members with Schizophrenia or Schizotypal Personality Disorder, have a higher chance of developing and/or experiencing the disorder. In addition, it may also develop as a way for individuals to manage extreme stress or to deal with a history of trauma.
What can Delusional Disorder cause an individual?
How is Delusional Disorder treated?
Although Delusional Disorder can be very hard to treat, psychopharmacology and psychotherapy are often used to treat it. However, hospitalization may be considered if an individual presents self-harm or if there is existing violence. In addition, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy may be used with some clients to help them identify problematic thinking and replace it with a more adaptive thinking. Also, Family Therapy can be employed to help an individuals loved one understand their disorder and help contribute to a better outcome for the individual.
What can I do to help someone cope with Delusional Disorder?
Posted: March 30, 2018 by VCCounseling
Enuresis
Does your child continue to wet their bed at night? Enuresis is a type of elimination disorder in which a child or individual continues to involuntary experience bed-wetting. Nocturnal enuresis is the most common type of elimination disorder in which a child continues to wet their bed throughout the night. However, when a child wets during the day, then it is referred to as diurnal enuresis. It is important to note that while some children experience one or the other, there are some children that experiences a combination of both. However, a diagnosis cannot be made unless the child is at least 5 years of age. Furthermore, it is believed to affect 7% of boys and 3% if girls by the age of 10. It is also important to take in mind that bedwetting does not occur because the individual was too lazy to get out of bed to go to the bathroom, but it is something that they cannot control.
What are the symptoms of Enuresis?
What causes Enuresis?
It is believed that the following factors may be associated with the development and diagnostic of the disorder:
How is Enuresis treated?
Although it is not treated for majority of the cases because the child eventually outgrows the disorder, the following may be used for severe Enuresis:
How can I help myself or loved one outgrow Enuresis?
Posted: March 29, 2018 by VCCounseling
Nightmare Disorder
Do you tend to wake up at night, terrified or threatened?
Nightmare disorder is described as a state in which an individual has repeated dreams in which they feel threatened or frightened, which the fear then causes the person to wake up. An individual who suffers from Nightmare Disorder experiences constant nightmares, which in turn cause distress, disrupts their sleeping patterns, and causes them to have problems with their daytime functioning or may even make them have a fear of going to sleep.
What are the symptoms of Nightmare Disorder?
Nightmares tend to happen during the second portion of the night and may occur rarely, frequently or even several times throughout the nights. In addition, such episodes tend to be brief, but long enough to cause you to awaken. Individuals who suffer from such disorder tend to also have difficulty falling back asleep after they have experienced a nightmare.
The following may be associated with a nightmare:
However, nightmares are only considered a disorder if the following occurs:
When should an individual seek medical help?
Although nightmares may be common however, if the following applies it is important to seek help as soon as you can:
What causes and/or triggers Nightmare Disorder?
How is Nightmare Disorder treated?
Although treatment is usually not necessary, the following may be used:
What can I do for myself or someone I know to help treat Nightmare Disorder?
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