Kellevision

How to Overcome Challenges

Life is full of challenges and learning how to meet them, and overcome them, is one of Life's lessons.  Here are a few things I have learned about dealing with Life's little curve balls. 

Bipolar Disorder and Trauma

I'm reading articles on the major mental illnesses and how they may be the result of trauma rather than a biological disorder.  The article regards and article by Dr. Benjamin Levy, "The Broad Relationship Between Bipolar Disorder and Disorders of Psychological Trauma - Time-Limited to Life-Long Need for Mood Stabilizers".  In short, why treating the trauma resolves the patient's need for medication for the rest of their life.

Trauma and Schizophrenia

I read an interesting article by the same name, "Trauma and Schizophrenia" (Karon 2007).  In it Karon states,

"Schizophrenia is a chronic terror syndrome.  In World War II there were battlefield traums that always produced classic schizophrenic symptoms.  However, if the patients were healthy before the trauma, they spontaneously recovered.  The myth of the incurability of schizophrenia led to the belief that these individuals could not be schizophrenic if they recovered.  But all schizophrenics are the victims of lives filled with trauma, sometimes subtle but usually obvious.  Professionals have tried not to listen.  But if one investigates, most of the bad things patients talk about or symbolize in their symtpoms are not delusional, but real traumas.  It helps to face the truth."

Trauma and Mental Disorders

I am reading a lot of research on how the symptoms of trauma and those of many major mental illnesses seriously overlap and will posting about this for the next week.  Most clinicians realize that the symptoms of depression and anxiety are part of the trauma spectrum.  Clients are often diagnosed with Major Depression or some type of anxiety disorder when the real problem is trauma.  Medication only lessens the symptoms (if you are lucky) but fails to resolve the actual disorder.  Treatment for the trauma resolves the issue and medication is no longer needed.  Clinicians are also are of the relationship between some personality disorder (i.e. Borderline Personality Disorder) and trauma.  But what I am now finding is that the medical model for psychiatric disorders may not be as accurate as it claims to be, or even useful.  Research is showing that trauma may be the underlying cause of such major mental illnesses as; Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Schizotypal Personality Disorder.  And that symptoms such as hallucinations, mood swings and psychosis may be better explained as trauma symtoms rather than a biological disorder.  It seems that once the trauma is treated, the "disorder" resolves itself without medication.

Because this is such a revolutionary way of thinking I'll be posting the research findings for each symptom or disorder complete with references to journal articles. 

I hope you enjoy this series.  In the future, to return to this series, click the "Trauma" category in the right side bar.

Bipolar Disorder, Depression and Creativity

Some researchers believe that Bipolar Disorder, Depression and creativity are connected.  As Peter Kramer writes in Listening to Prozac,

"Throughout history, it has been known that melancholics, though they have little energy, use their energy well; they tend to work hard in a focused area, do great things, and derive little pleasure from their accomplishments. Much of the insight and creative achievement of the human race is due to the discontent, guilt, and critical eye of dysthymics." 

Depressive Realism

"Depressive Realism" is the interesting theory that people who are depressed actually have a more realistic view of themselves, the world in general and their place in it.  The idea proposes that people who are happier are less likely to look life straight in the face and see it for what it is.  They tend to view the world with rose-colored glasses.

How to Reduce Anxiety

I'm finding that many, many people experience anxiety symptoms, but only know to turn to pharmaceutical interventions for relief.  However, there are other ways to bring anxiety down that you can use instead of or in addition to medication. 

Mental Health and Mental Illness in the Movies

I've started a page with a list of movies which I believe accurately portray different forms of mental illness or mental health issues.  Feel free to comment, leave feedback or make suggestions.

Mental Health and Mental Illness in the Movies

 

How to Be Happier

Intent.com's topic for the week is "How to Be Happier".  They are asking the question, "what can we all do as individuals or communities to make ourselves happier?"  What an excellent question! 

Depression, Helplessness, Hopelessness and External Locus of Control

Having an "External Locus of Control" can lead to feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and depression, yet this is rarely mentioned when we talk about depression and its treatment.  What is an External Locus of Control and how can it contribute to feelings of depression?