Who is at Risk for Suicide?

 Suicide is a serious public health issue that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. However, there are some groups of people who are at higher risk for suicide than others.

Gender

Men are four times more likely than women to die by suicide. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including the fact that men are more likely to use lethal means in their suicide attempts and that they are less likely to seek help for mental health problems.

Age

Suicide is very rare in children, but the risk increases dramatically during adolescence and young adulthood. The highest rates of suicide are seen in people aged 15-24. The risk of suicide then declines somewhat in midlife, before increasing again in older adulthood.

Race and ethnicity

White people are more likely to die by suicide than people of other races and ethnicities. This is particularly true for white men

Mental health conditions

Mental health conditions are a major risk factor for suicide. People with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions are more likely to attempt or die by suicide.

Substance abuse

People who abuse alcohol or drugs are also at increased risk for suicide. This is because substance abuse can lead to problems in other areas of life, such as relationships, finances, and employment. These problems can make it more difficult to cope with stress and can increase the risk of suicide.

History of suicide attempts

People who have attempted suicide in the past are more likely to attempt or die by suicide in the future. This is why it is so important to get help for suicidal thoughts and behaviors as soon as possible.

Exposure to trauma

People who have experienced trauma, such as abuse, neglect, or violence, are also at increased risk for suicide. This is because trauma can lead to problems with mental health, substance abuse, and interpersonal relationships. These problems can make it more difficult to cope with stress and can increase the risk of suicide.

Lack of social support

People who feel isolated and alone are more likely to attempt or die by suicide. This is because social support can help people to cope with stress and to feel connected to others. If you are feeling isolated or alone, it is important to reach out to friends, family, or a mental health professional for support.

If you are concerned that you or someone you know may be at risk for suicide, please reach out for help. There are many resources available, including:

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

The Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

The Jed Foundation: https://www.jedfoundation.org/

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/

References

 Hooley, Jill, M.,et al. Abnormal Psychology. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (18th   Edition). Pearson Education (US), 2019.

 Grief and Loss: The Normal and the Not-So-Normal

Grief is a natural and necessary process that we all go through when we lose someone we love. It is a complex emotion that can be expressed in many different ways, both physically and emotionally.

The grieving process typically follows a predictable pattern, with four distinct phases:

1. Numbing and disbelief: In the immediate aftermath of a loss, it is common to feel numb and disbelief. This is a way of coping with the overwhelming pain of loss.
2. Yearning and searching: As the numbness begins to wear off, we may start to feel an intense longing for the person we have lost. We may also experience vivid memories of them and find ourselves searching for them in familiar places.
3. Disorganization and despair: This phase is often characterized by feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, and despair. We may feel like our world has been turned upside down and we may have difficulty functioning in our daily lives.
4. Reorganization: This is the final phase of grief when we begin to rebuild our lives and find new meaning in our existence. We may still experience sadness and longing, but we will also be able to appreciate the good times we had with the person we lost and move forward with our lives.

It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Everyone experiences grief differently and at their own pace. There is no set timeline for how long grief should last. Some people may start to feel better within a few months, while others may take years to fully heal.

If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, it is important to reach out for support. Talk to your friends and family, join a grief support group, or seek professional help from a therapist. There is no shame in seeking help during this difficult time.

It is also important to be patient with yourself. Grief is a process and it takes time to heal. Don't expect to feel better overnight. Just focus on taking things one day at a time and allow yourself to grieve in your own way.

Resilience in the Face of Loss

Not everyone who experiences loss develops depression. In fact, about 50 percent of people who lose a spouse, life partner, or parent exhibit genuine resilience in the face of loss, with minimal, very short-lived symptoms of depression or bereavement.

These resilient individuals are not emotionally maladjusted or unattached to their spouses. In fact, they are often very close to their loved ones and feel the loss deeply. However, they are able to cope with the loss in a healthy way. They may find comfort in their faith, their relationships with other people, or their hobbies. They may also find strength in their own inner resources.

If you are struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one, it is important to know that you are not alone. There are many people who have successfully navigated the grieving process and come out stronger on the other side. With time, support, and self-care, you can too.

References

 Hooley, J. M., Nock, M. K., & Butcher, J. N. (2019). Abnormal Psychology (18th ed.). Pearson

                 Education (US). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9780135191033

 Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia): What You Need to Know

 

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD), formerly called dysthymic disorder or dysthymia, is a mental health condition characterized by a persistent low mood that lasts for at least two years. People with PDD may also experience other symptoms, such as low energy, poor concentration, and feelings of hopelessness.

PDD is a chronic condition, but it is treatable. With the right treatment, people with PDD can learn to manage their symptoms and live full and productive lives.

What are the symptoms of PDD?

The main symptom of PDD is a persistent low mood. This mood may be described as feeling sad, down, or hopeless. People with PDD may also experience:

1. Low energy
2. Poor concentration
3. Difficulty making decisions
4. Low self-esteem
5. Feelings of hopelessness
6. Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
7. Sleep disturbances (either insomnia or hypersomnia)
8. Changes in appetite (either weight loss or weight gain)
9. Fatigue
10. Aches and pains
11. Thoughts of death or suicide

How is PDD diagnosed?

PDD is diagnosed by a mental health professional. The diagnosis is based on a review of the person's symptoms and medical history. The professional will also rule out other possible causes of the symptoms, such as a medical condition or substance abuse.
What are the treatments for PDD? PDD is a treatable condition. There are a variety of treatment options available, including:

1. 
   Medication: There are a number of medications that can be effective in treating PDD. These medications typically take several weeks to start working, and they may need to be adjusted over time.
2. Therapy: Therapy can be helpful for people with PDD. There are a number of different types of therapy that can be effective, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT).
3. Lifestyle changes: Making changes to your lifestyle can also help to manage the symptoms of PDD. These changes may include getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep.

What is the outlook for people with PDD?

The outlook for people with PDD is good. With the right treatment, people with PDD can learn to manage their symptoms and live full and productive lives. However, PDD is a chronic condition, and there is always a risk of relapse.
If you think you may have PDD, it is important to see a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment. With the right help, you can live a happy and fulfilling life.

References

 Hooley, J. M., Nock, M. K., & Butcher, J. N. (2019). Abnormal Psychology (18th ed.). Pearson  Education (US). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9780135191033

 The Unconscious Mind: What is it and Why is it Important? - Freud

The unconscious mind is a vast and mysterious realm of our psyche that is largely hidden from our conscious awareness. However, it plays a vital role in our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

In this blog post, we will explore the concept of the unconscious mind, discuss some of its key features, and consider its importance for our psychological health.

What is the unconscious mind?

The unconscious mind is a reservoir of thoughts, feelings, memories, and desires that are outside of our conscious awareness. It is often described as a "dark continent" of the psyche because it is so difficult to access and understand. However, the unconscious mind is not completely inaccessible. We can gain some insights into its workings through dreams, slips of the tongue, and other forms of unconscious communication. 

The unconscious mind is characterized by the following features:

1. It is largely hidden from our conscious awareness.
2. It is dynamic and constantly active.
3. It is influenced by our emotions and drives.
4. It can store memories that we have repressed or forgotten.
5. It can generate creative ideas and solutions to problems.
6. The importance of the unconscious mind

The unconscious mind plays a vital role in our psychological health. It helps us to process emotions, store memories, and make decisions. It also plays a role in our creativity and problem-solving abilities.

However, the unconscious mind can also be a source of problems. For example, unconscious conflicts can lead to anxiety and depression. Unconscious memories of trauma can cause us to relive negative experiences. And unconscious desires can lead us to make self-destructive choices.

Conclusion

The unconscious mind is a complex and fascinating realm of our psyche. It is important to understand its workings in order to achieve psychological health and well-being.

If you are struggling with unconscious conflicts or other psychological problems, it is important to seek professional help. A therapist can help you to explore your unconscious mind and develop healthy coping mechanisms.

I hope this blog post has been informative and helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.

References

 Freud, S. (1911). The Interpretation of Dreams (3rd ed.). Hayes Barton Press.         https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/L-999-74204

 

Sigmund Freud and his theories:

Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) is probably the most controversial and misunderstood psychological theorist. When reading Freud’s theories, it is important to remember that he was a medical doctor, not a psychologist. There was no such thing as a degree in psychology at the time that he received his education, which can help us understand some of the controversy over his theories today. However, Freud was the first to systematically study and theorize the workings of the unconscious mind in the manner that we associate with modern psychology.

In the early years of his career, Freud worked with Josef Breuer, a Viennese physician. During this time, Freud became intrigued by the story of one of Breuer’s patients, Bertha Pappenheim, who was referred to by the pseudonym Anna O. (Lovett et al., 2020).

Anna O. had been caring for her dying father when she began to experience symptoms such as partial paralysis, headaches, blurred vision, amnesia, and hallucinations (Launer, 2005). In Freud’s day, these symptoms were commonly referred to as hysteria. Anna O. turned to Breuer for help. He spent 2 years (1880–1882) treating Anna O. and discovered that allowing her to talk about her experiences seemed to bring some relief to her symptoms. Anna O. called his treatment the “talking cure” (Lovett et al., 2020). Despite the fact that Freud never met Anna O., her story served as the basis for the 1895 book, Studies on Hysteria, which he co-authored with Breuer.

Based on Breuer’s description of Anna O.’s treatment, Freud concluded that hysteria was the result of sexual abuse in childhood and that these traumatic experiences had been hidden from consciousness. Breuer disagreed with Freud, which soon ended their work together. However, Freud continued to work to refine talk therapy and build his theory on personality.

To explain the concept of conscious versus unconscious experience, Freud compared the mind to an iceberg (Lovett et al., 2020). He said that only about one-tenth of our mind is conscious, and the rest of our mind is unconscious. Our unconscious refers to that mental activity of which we are unaware and unable to access (Lovett et al., 2020). According to Freud, unacceptable urges and desires are kept in our unconscious through a process called repression.

For example, we sometimes say things that we don’t intend to say by unintentionally substituting another word for the one we meant. You’ve probably heard of a Freudian slip, the term used to describe this. Freud suggested that slips of the tongue are actually sexual or aggressive urges accidentally slipping out of our unconscious. Speech errors such as this are quite common. Seeing them as a reflection of unconscious desires, linguists today have found that slips of the tongue tend to occur when we are tired, nervous, or not at our optimal level of cognitive functioning.

According to Freud, our personality develops from a conflict between two forces: our biological aggressive and pleasure-seeking drives versus our internal (socialized) control over these drives. Our personality is the result of our efforts to balance these two competing forces. Freud suggested that we can understand this by imagining three interacting systems within our minds. He called them the id, ego, and superego.

The unconscious id contains our most primitive drives or urges and is present from birth. It directs impulses for hunger, thirst, and sex. Freud believed that the id operates on what he called the “pleasure principle,” in which the id seeks immediate gratification.

Through social interactions with parents and others in a child’s environment, the ego and superego develop to help control the id. The superego develops as a child interacts with others learning social rules for right and wrong. The superego acts as our conscience; it is our moral compass that tells us how we should behave.

References

 Lovett, R.M.S.W.J.J.M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e (2nd ed.). OpenStax.

     https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781951693237

 What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a state of heightened suggestibility in which people are more likely to accept and act on the suggestions of a hypnotist. It is often used in therapy to help people manage pain, reduce stress, and quit smoking. Hypnosis can also be used for entertainment purposes, such as in stage shows.

There are two main theories about how hypnosis works. The first theory is that hypnosis is a state of dissociation, in which people are split into two parts: the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. The conscious mind is aware of what is happening around them, but the unconscious mind is more suggestible. The second theory is that hypnosis is a social role. When people are hypnotized, they are simply acting the part of a hypnotized person. They are following the suggestions of the hypnotist because they believe that they are supposed to do so.

There is some evidence to support both of these theories. For example, studies have shown that people in a hypnotic state are more likely to experience dissociation. They may have an out-of-body experience, or they may feel like they are watching themselves from a distance. However, there is also evidence that hypnosis is a social role. For example, studies have shown that people who are more suggestible are more likely to be hypnotized. This suggests that people who are more likely to believe in hypnosis are also more likely to be hypnotized.

Ultimately, the debate about how hypnosis works is still ongoing. However, there is no doubt that hypnosis is a powerful tool that can be used to help people in a variety of ways.

Here are some of the benefits of hypnosis:

• Pain management: Hypnosis has been shown to be effective in reducing pain in a variety of settings, including hospitals, dentists' offices, and pain clinics.
• Stress reduction: Hypnosis can be used to help people relax and reduce stress. This can be helpful for people with anxiety disorders, as well as people who simply want to improve their overall well-being.
• Weight loss: Hypnosis can be used to help people lose weight and keep it off. This is because hypnosis can help people change their eating habits and make healthier choices.
• Smoking cessation: Hypnosis can be an effective way to help people quit smoking. This is because hypnosis can help people break the habit and reduce their cravings for cigarettes.
• Performance improvement: Hypnosis can be used to help people improve their performance in a variety of areas, such as sports, public speaking, and test-taking. This is because hypnosis can help people focus and concentrate, and it can also help them reduce anxiety and stress.

If you are interested in trying hypnosis, it is important to find a qualified hypnotist. You can ask your doctor for a referral, or you can search online for hypnotists in your area. It is also important to be aware that hypnosis is not a magic bullet. It takes time and effort to achieve the desired results. However, if you are willing to put in the work, hypnosis can be a valuable tool for improving your life.

 References

Lovett, R.M.S.W.J.J.M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e (2nd ed.). OpenStax.

            
 https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781951693237

 

 

Nietzsche on Morality

 Nietzsche on Morality

 In his book Beyond Good and Evil, Friedrich Nietzsche argues that morality is not a fixed or objective set of rules, but rather a product of human culture and history. He criticizes the traditional view of morality as being based on universal truths, arguing that it is instead based on the specific values and interests of particular groups or individuals.

Nietzsche argues that there are no such things as "good" and "evil" in themselves, but that these terms are simply labels that we apply to things that we approve of or disapprove of. He says that morality is "a sign-language of the emotions," and that it is used to express our own needs and desires, as well as to control the behavior of others.

Nietzsche also argues that morality is often used to justify our own actions, even when those actions are harmful to others. He says that we often use morality as a "tyranny against nature" and "reason," in order to justify our own prejudices and biases.

Nietzsche concludes by arguing that we should not take morality too seriously. He says that we should not be afraid to question traditional moral values and that we should be open to new ways of thinking about morality. He believes that we should create our own morality, based on our own needs and desires, rather than blindly following the morality of others.

Nietzsche's views on morality have been controversial, but they have also been influential. His work has been praised by some for its insights into the nature of morality, and it has been criticized by others for its relativism and amorality.

Regardless of one's opinion of Nietzsche's views, there is no doubt that he was a brilliant thinker who challenged our traditional understanding of morality. His work is still relevant today, and it continues to be debated and discussed by philosophers and scholars.

Here are some additional thoughts on Nietzsche's views on morality:

Nietzsche's view that morality is a product of human culture and history is supported by the fact that different cultures have different moral codes. For example, what is considered moral in one culture may be considered immoral in another.

Nietzsche's view that morality is based on the specific values and interests of particular groups or individuals is supported by the fact that different groups and individuals have different moral beliefs. For example, a religious group may believe that it is moral to follow the teachings of their religion, while a secular group may believe that it is moral to live a life of reason and self-determination.

Nietzsche's view that morality is often used to justify our own actions, even when those actions are harmful to others, is supported by the fact that we often use moral arguments to justify our own prejudices and biases. For example, we may argue that it is moral to discriminate against certain groups of people because we believe that they are inferior.

Nietzsche's view that we should not take morality too seriously is supported by the fact that morality can often be used to control our behavior and prevent us from living our lives to the fullest. For example, we may be afraid to do something that we want to do because we think it is immoral.

Nietzsche's views on morality are complex and challenging, but they are also thought-provoking and insightful. They offer a new perspective on morality that can help us to understand our own moral beliefs and to question the traditional moral values of our society.

References

Nietzsche, F. W. (1903). Beyond Good and Evil. Hayes Barton Press.

         https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/L-999-71494