mental illness

[bhsmte]

Personality disorders are worse than the average mental illness. NAMI only lists one personality disorder. Personality disorders come with a sense that they are permanent and start in a much earlier age. Personality disorders are not the kind of thing to bring up in court. Imagine a person in court for something serious and then adding that the person has been this way his or her whole life as a psychopath and won't change.

The usual mental disorders do not make the person dangerous. The usual mental illness makes them vulnerable to other people harming them. Why then must people argue here using personality disorders as examples? Because the normal range of mental illness does not make them dangerous.

Most people with mental illness are not dangerous. Mental illness can give them more of an opportunity to be dangerous, because we are dealing with abnormal behaviors.

People with personality disorders come in all shapes and sizes. The unique thing about personality disorders (Borderline is a good example) is the ability that high functioning borderlines have to fool and manipulate people. I know, I was around one for a long time. Eventually, the behaviors become more obvious to the people that are around them more often and when the personality disordered person is unable to control their surroundings.

Personality disorders are difficult for two reasons; as I mentioned above, some live relatively normal public lives, but reek havoc in their personal lives and; most refuse to acknowledge they have a problem and seek treatment.

 

[blackribbon]

Personality disorders are worse than the average mental illness. NAMI only lists one personality disorder. Personality disorders come with a sense that they are permanent and start in a much earlier age. Personality disorders are not the kind of thing to bring up in court. Imagine a person in court for something serious and then adding that the person has been this way his or her whole life as a psychopath and won't change.

The usual mental disorders do not make the person dangerous. The usual mental illness makes them vulnerable to other people harming them. Why then must people argue here using personality disorders as examples? Because the normal range of mental illness does not make them dangerous.

What is the "average mental illness?" Personality disorders are usually "born that way" the same as schizophrenia and bipolar and other mental illnesses. The age that they manifest can be different but that doesn't mean that they weren't already that way. And many personality disorders can be treated and are completely non-dangerous....it is only the anti-social (or psychpath) personality that really is potentially dangerous to others. Sadly, there is no current effective treatment for the anti-social personality. The borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorders aren't dangerous but just kind of "use up" the people around them related to their symptoms if they are not treated.

Society needs to be educated on ALL mental illness so that they can help those that they love get help and not just end of hating them because they think it is a conscious act (versus a symptom). Most people's quality of life can be improved with treatment and more people might be willing to get treatment early if we can remove the stigma of mental illness. Sad to say, based on many of the responses I have read here that the Christian church is going to continue to make it hard for people to accept their diagnoses and get treatment. We will just "pray away" their problems....tell them to "repent" instead of getting treatment. Not sure why that doesn't also apply to cancer and heart disease. No self-respecting church would say "if you trust God and repent of all your sins, then God will heal your heart disease". and just skip all the doctor's appointments and medicines prescribed. God CAN heal all diseases miraculously but usually, he uses doctors and even Godly people suffer and die of physical and mental illnesses.

 

[blackribbon]

Just because NAMI or even DSM don't list a mental illness, does not mean it does not exist. The DSM is the primary source but even that changes relatively often as they do more research. The study of mental illness is only in its infancy...and my hope is one day they see our times as being the "dark ages" when we still were trying to treat these people as if they were "at fault" instead of it being recognized as a medical condition that can be treated and the quality of life for these individuals improved.

(and I didn't look for all the recognized personality disorders at NAMI but I did also see OCD listed.)

 

[redblue22]

Even this site, CF, has a section for mental illness. As is customary, the only personality disorder listed is borderline. OCD is not a personality disorder.

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[blackribbon]

OCD is a personality disorder. The mental illness section of CF is for people living with these disorders...my post is aimed on educating those without the disorders for better understanding. It also might help a person or two to recognize that they have a disorder and not just sit around suffering in silence.

The following are recognized personality disorders:

Antisocial Personality Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Dependent Personality Disorder
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Multiple Personality Disorder(Dissociative Identity Disorder)
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder

 

[blackribbon]

for a brief explanation of personality disorders:

Personality Disorders & Personality Traits

 

[Messy]

What is the "average mental illness?" Personality disorders are usually "born that way" the same as schizophrenia and bipolar and other mental illnesses. The age that they manifest can be different but that doesn't mean that they weren't already that way. And many personality disorders can be treated and are completely non-dangerous....it is only the anti-social (or psychpath) personality that really is potentially dangerous to others. Sadly, there is no current effective treatment for the anti-social personality. The borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorders aren't dangerous but just kind of "use up" the people around them related to their symptoms if they are not treated.

Society needs to be educated on ALL mental illness so that they can help those that they love get help and not just end of hating them because they think it is a conscious act (versus a symptom). Most people's quality of life can be improved with treatment and more people might be willing to get treatment early if we can remove the stigma of mental illness. Sad to say, based on many of the responses I have read here that the Christian church is going to continue to make it hard for people to accept their diagnoses and get treatment. We will just "pray away" their problems....tell them to "repent" instead of getting treatment. Not sure why that doesn't also apply to cancer and heart disease. No self-respecting church would say "if you trust God and repent of all your sins, then God will heal your heart disease". and just skip all the doctor's appointments and medicines prescribed. God CAN heal all diseases miraculously but usually, he uses doctors and even Godly people suffer and die of physical and mental illnesses.

You base that on the responses here? Other than that church in Nigeria where some Dutch People go who can't be treated I never seen one and I've been in a few. They all encourage medicines and psychiaters, even the hypercharismatics. In Spirit filled/charismatic we had a discussiion about it. Just a few are for faith healing in that case but not one said don't get treatment. I think almost all churches encourage that, even if they also pray for healing.

 

[blackribbon]

You base that on the responses here? Other than that church in Nigeria where some Dutch People go who can't be treated I never seen one and I've been in a few. They all encourage medicines and psychiaters, even the hypercharismatics. In Spirit filled/charismatic we had a discussiion about it. Just a few are for faith healing in that case but not one said don't get treatment. I think almost all churches encourage that, even if they also pray for healing.

My experience is watching the church tells people to repent...and cheer up...and focus on Jesus....like that will miraculously erase the mental illnesses. Many people consider it "possession" or "bad behavior" that just needs a little bit of "self-control" and not a medical problem.

This does not mean ignore being a Christian if you are mentally ill, but I have seen some of the strongest Christians actually struggling with their diseases on the psych floor. It is through Christ that they continue to struggle to survive...they are not godless people.

 

[blackribbon]

One of the first fears of many of the patients on the psych floor as they start to come out of their psychosis is "what will people think?". I have yet to have a patient on the medical floor that lies there in terror because what will people think about them having to have their gallbladder removed. Very few people visit the patients on the psych floor while we are buried in visitors on the medical floor.

 

[redblue22]

I figure most people get over worrying what others think. You get used to it.

OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not the same as OCPD Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. Look it up.

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[bhsmte]

Even this site, CF, has a section for mental illness. As is customary, the only personality disorder listed is borderline. OCD is not a personality disorder.

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I would not refer to this site as the source for personality disorders.

There are many personality disorders, that are acknowledged by mental health professionals, with specific criteria for diagnosis.

 

[redblue22]

I would not refer to this site as the source for personality disorders.

There are many personality disorders, that are acknowledged by mental health professionals, with specific criteria for diagnosis.

I don't really understand.

 

[bhsmte]

I don't really understand.

Can't make it any clearer.

 

[redblue22]

Perhaps you could explain why personality disorders are labeled as "personality."

Is a sleeping disorder also a mental illness?

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[dayhiker]

There is this idea that some sleep problems result from memory loss .. not quite mental illness!

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/common-sleep-problem-linked-with-memory-loss/?_r=0

 

[blackribbon]

I figure most people get over worrying what others think. You get used to it.

OCD Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not the same as OCPD Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. Look it up.

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You got me there. We were taught both disorders at the same time. I will have to read about the differences after I get some sleep because even when they are telling me they are different, they are sounding very similar. I will try again with a rested brain.

And considering how many people deny very obvious symptoms even when on the psych floor, I don't think most people ever get over worrying about what people think. I have learned I get the most productive information if I talk about symptoms in a very detached way so that they can continue to deny symptoms but are free to ask questions about them.

 

[blackribbon]

There is this idea that some sleep problems result from memory loss .. not quite mental illness!

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/common-sleep-problem-linked-with-memory-loss/?_r=0

Actually, I think this is saying that sleep apnea causes memory loss. Sleep apnea is when you stop breathing for a short period of time as you are sleeping. So it is really that even these small moments of loss of oxygen can cause brain damage.

 

[dayhiker]

Thanks, black ... that makes sense as well.

 

[redblue22]

I hate memory loss due to medication. nonetheless, knowing the difference between OCD and OCPD is important. Dealing with personality disorders is hard enough.

 

[blackribbon]

I hate memory loss due to medication. nonetheless, knowing the difference between OCD and OCPD is important. Dealing with personality disorders is hard enough.

Not really for a nurse. I work with the symptoms that are presenting. So if a person is presenting with OCD type repetitious behaviors, I deal with those behaviors and the related anxiety. If someone is expressing concerns about other's behaviors (which is what I'd expect with an OCPD), I'd be dealing with those thoughts and concerns. If they are on my floor, they most likely had a psychotic event that is is actually the primary focus anyway and the other diagnoses will be addressed in outpatient counseling after we stablize and discharge the patient.