A Quick Look at Personality Disorders

Personality disorders are chronic, maladaptive cognitive-behavioral patterns that are integrated into the individual's personality. Manifestations are usually recognizable by adolescence or even at an earlier age. Since personality is relatively stable, while these disorders are not as intense as other mental health problems, they are difficult to treat. Personality disorders are classified into three clusters:

• odd/eccentric cluster

• dramatic/emotional or erratic cluster

• chronic-fearfulness/avoidant cluster 

A. Odd/Eccentric Cluster 

1. Paranoid. They lack trust, are suspicious, sees themselves as morally correct, but thinks that they are vulnerable and envied by people.

2. Schizoid. They have no adequate social relationships, are shy and have withdrawn behavior. They are what you typically notice as someone "cold," and have difficulty expressing their anger or emotions.

3.  Schizotypal. They have odd thinking patterns or eccentric beliefs, overt suspicion and hostility. They are not as bizarre as those suffering from schizophrenia.

B. Dramatic/Emotional or Erratic Cluster

4.  Histrionic. They try to seek so much attention and tend to overreact to any situation. They are "dramatic" and shows noticeable and intense reaction that what is really required by the situation. This disorder is more common in women than men.

5.  Narcissistic. They have unrealistic sense of self-importance, cannot take criticisms, tend to manipulate people, lack empathy and often, these are the cause of problematic relationships.

source: http://positivemed.com/2013/08/20/narcissistic-personality-disorder/

  

6.  Borderline.  They are emotionally unstable, impulsive, unpredictable, irritable, anxious, easily bored, and have unstable sense of self or identity. Symptoms are the same as schizotypal personality disorder, but those with borderline personality are not consistently withdrawn or bizarre.

7.  Antisocial. These people are guiltless, law breakers, exploitative, self-indulgent, irresponsible and intrusive. They resort to crime and violence. This disorder is more common in men.

C. Chronic Fearfulness/Avoidant Cluster

8.  Avoidant. They are shy and inhibited yet desire interpersonal relationships, unlike the schizoid and schizotypal. They have low self-esteem and very sensitive to rejection. It is almost close to being an anxiety disorder (social anxiety disorder/social phobia), but they do not experience much personal distress.

9.  Dependent. Those with dependent personality lack self-confidence and are unable to express their own personalities or individuality. They express a pervasive need to cling to stronger personailities who make decisions for them. This disorder is more common in women than men.

10.  Obsessive-Compulsive. This personality disorder should not be confused with the anxiety disorder with the same name. Those with this kind of personality do not have the same kind of obsessive thoughts and rituals that cause intense anxiety. People with this personality rather show obsessive perfectionism, rigidity, and even follow very strict moral code. They are obsessed with rules, can be emotionally insensitive and typically live a lifestyle of high productivity and efficiency. They only want and have the "right" answers, and there is no such thing as a "gray area" for them.






  
 

Mental Health and Mental Hygiene

Mental health is integral to a person's overall health. It is intimately connected with physical health and behavior. One who has good mental health is not only physically healthy, but also socially, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. A failing health in any one aspect will impinge on his mental state. When we speak of mental health, we refer to it as more than the absence of mental illness.
 
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, is able to cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and  make a meaningful contribution to his or her community.

Mental illness is a broad category of condition which includes all the disorders of behavior which are caused by faulty perception, emotions, thinking and/or attitude.

Mental Hygiene and its Relationship to Mental Health

While mental hygiene differs from mental health, these two concepts are closely associated. One cannot attain good mental health without good mental hygiene. In order to have a better understanding of mental health, its major components should be considered together.

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of illness or infirmity (WHO). 

Hygiene pertains to keeping oneself and one's living areas neat and clean in order to prevent illness and disease.

Mental hygiene is therefore defined as the art of developing, maintaining, and promoting necessary behavioral, emotional, and social skills in order to sustain good, effective, and efficient mental health.

There are two spheres of mental hygiene:

1. Prophylactic hygiene that is oriented towards the prevention of disease, breakdown, weakness, or disaster.
2. Meliorative side of hygiene that is oriented towards acquiring better health, more energy, or abundant life. It is focused on the normal and ideal as opposed to focusing on what is abnormal or pathological. 
   

Below are some basic strategies in maintaining mental health:

Reality Contact. One has to have a realistic appraisal of his or her own emotions, abilities, and reactions. if one is "in touch"with reality, disappointments and frustrations are avoided.

Impulse Control. One should have the maturity and a good control of his or her own behavior, emotions, and impulses.

Self-esteem. Knowing one's self, or having a good sense of self-concept is important in attaining good mental health. Self-concept is the sum total of  all that a person is aware about his or her own self. One can either have a positive or negative self-evaluation. But a sense of personal adequacy or having a positive self-concept is what is essential for mental health.

Positive Thinking. Quality of one's mental health also depends on whether one directs his or her own thoughts positively or negatively. Negative thoughts is intimately connected with negative emotions, such as anger, hate, jealousy, fear, and despair. Early philosophers believe in the mind-body connection, and an unhealthy mind means an unhealthy body. If one is always in a state of anxiety, it may eventually put a toil on the endocrine system and affect one's overall physical health. Develop the habit of positive thinking. Think only of positive thoughts and experience positive emotions of love, joy, happiness, hope, compassion, and empathy. There is no better way to strengthen your capacity to cope with life's various challenges than to be optimistic!

What are the indicators of poor mental health?

1. Disorganized or haphazard daily life routine
2. Short-tempered and irritable behavior
3. Anger and aggressive behavior
4. Restlessness
5. Increased or poor appetite and indigestion
6. Irregular sleeping pattern or sleeping disorders (e.g., insomnia, disturbed sleep, narcolepsy)
7. Poor interpersonal relationships
8. Anxiety and worry
9. Negative attitude toward self and others
10. Withdrawing from social relationships
11. Irregular and abnormal physiological conditions (e.g., increased blood pressure, heart palpitations, increased pulse rate)
12. Use of unprescribed drugs or substances (e.g., alcohol, tranquilizers, hallucinogens)
13. Cigarette smoking 

What is Cognitive Psychology?

Cognitive psychology is a subdiscipline of psychology that explores internal mental processes. It is the scientific study of  mind and mental function, including learning, memory, attention, perception, reasoning, language, conceptual development, and decision making. Its major premise is that, "the brain is a complex computing system." It is a branch of psychology that is closely related to other disciplines, such as neuroscience, philosophy, and linguistics.

Cognitive psychology is different from other psychological approaches in two ways:

1. It accepts the use of scientific method and rejects introspection as a valid method of investigation (e.g., Freudian psychology, unconscious motivation, structuralism, and functionalism).
2. It acknowledges the existence of intense mental states (e.g., belief, desire, motivation).  

The school of thought arising from this approach is cognitivism.

Teenage Depression: What Parents Need to Know

What is depression? 

According to the World Health Organization, depression is “a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration,”
 
It is but normal for some teenagers to feel sad or anxious, but if these emotions don't pass within a few days, it might be something more serious. Depression, if untreated and begins to interfere with day-to-day activities, can't be disregarded. In the DSM V Manual, a major depressive disorder (MDD) is considered as a medical illness that affects how one feels, thinks, and behaves, causing persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. Depression can actually lead to a variety of emotional and even physical problems and requires long term treatment.
 
Is your teenager suffering from depression? Mayo Clinic lists some warning signs for all parents to be aware of.

• Feelings of sadness or unhappiness
• Irritability or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Agitation or restlessness
• Angry outbursts
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration
• Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixation on past failures, or self-blame when things aren't going right
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
• Crying spells for no apparent reason
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

What can you do to help your teenage child cope with depression?

While it's still best to seek professional help, but as a parent, let your child know that you're there to make him or her feel better. Some things that you can do:

1. Participate in enjoyable activities.  Encourage your teenage child to get involved in activities that he or she enjoys.  That helps him or her shift focus away from negative thoughts. Physical activity is always helpful. 

2. Seek social support. Encourage your teenage child to meet people his or her age and within his or her circle. Cousins, friends, church group, and school mates can can be a great source of support.

Read more at Natasha Goulbourn Foundation

Job Hunting 101 for Recent Graduates

Job Hunting Tip # 1. Know what you want.

Don't apply to every job announcement that you see. Employers see this as a cue that applicant lacks focus, goal, and ambition. Applying for a variety of positions in several industries shows that one  doesn't really know what career direction he wants.

Ask yourself first - what am I passionate about? If you know deep in your heart what it is, then you're ready to begin the search. You have to prove to your potential employer that you're serious in your career plans and believe that getting into their industry or company is just the break that you need to kick start your career.

Job Hunting Tip # 2. Network. 

While you have that sense of pride and independence and would want to market yourself by being who you are, be humble enough to accept any act of kindness from the people you know. These are your former professors, alumni group, could be a distant relative, or just your friendly hair dresser. They must care for you and that's why they even bother to tell you of any opportunity that might be worth looking at. After all, we're all interdependent. You still have to prove your worth and qualifications in order to win a job offer and not because of who you know.

Job Hunting Tip # 3. Keep Busy. 

It might take a while before you find that elusive dream job. But take this opportunity to sharpen your skills or even learn a new one. If you've been wanting to join an advocacy group or be involved in community work, this is the right time. You get to do what you've always wanted to do while again building on your network. You can't always be staying at home or otherwise get too busy tinkering on the computer and sending your resume online. Go out and attend seminars or workshops organized by your university, professional association, and even by your church group.

We're actually very impressed with candidates who value professional development and by those who keep themselves productive. You don't even have a lot of explaining to do for a few months of unemployment that we usually notice on the application form if you can tell your interviewer, without batting an eyelash, how you kept yourself busy while waiting for interview invitations. 

What is positive psychology?

Most people would think of psychology as a science that is focused on understanding dysfunctional behavior of people with mental illness and those with psychological problems. 

Positive Psychology is relatively a new term that simply pertains to the study of happiness. It is a new field in psychology that examines how the common tao or normal people can be helped out to live a happier and more fulfilled life.