Tag: #psychotherapy #mentalheath

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder or NDP is a personality disorder characterized by grandiosity. You may see it in people who have an inflated ego, with little regards to others. It is important to note that NDP is a psychiatric condition, and it is more complex than simply being arrogant. It’s distressing for those who have it and for those who’re around them. Hoping to shed some light on the condition, and sign that a person should seek help. While much of T.V and movies portray narcissism as people who feel like they’re better than everyone else, it’s usually not just the case.

What is narcissism?

Narcissism is a set of traits classified and studied by psychologists. The psychological definition of narcissism is an inflated, grandiose self-image. To varying degrees, narcissists think they’re better looking, smart and more important than other people and that they deserve special treatment.

Psychologists recognize two form of narcissism as personality traits:

  • Grandiose
  • Vulnerable

What is NDP?

  • NPD is a personality disorder in which the person feels self-important and craves constant validation.
  • Their feelings of superiority often hint at a deeper problem.
  • As their need of validation often comes from a place of insecurity and instability rather than genuine self love which they may not be aware of.

What causes NPD?

  1. While the cause of NPD is unknown, researchers believe that it has to do with a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
  2. It’s believed that 6% of people have this disorder. Men have a higher chance of this disorder than women.
  3. Some believe that NPD is developed to cope with trauma and feelings of inadequacy. Others believe it may be learned in early childhood from dealing with anything, from abuse to excessive pampering.
  4. There is even a debate as to how much of the disorder is passed down from parents to children acquiring the disorder.

What are the signs and Symptoms?

The feeling of grandiosity where they feel that they’re superior to others and low empathy are often seen in those with NPD; they don’t care much for others expecting to receive constant validation.

  • People with NPD feel as though they’re entitled to whatever they want which can be dangerous as it can manifest into toxic relationships.
  • They may manipulate others to get what they want.
  • They brag and exaggerate their achievements or feel envious of anyone that outperforms them, but deep down the person with NPD may be really dealing with their own feeling of inadequacy.

How to get help?

  • People with NPD may not seek help for the disorder itself as they may not know that there’s an issue.
  • Usually, people are diagnosed because they seek treatment for other issues such as depression or addiction.

However people who feel that they may have the condition and urged to reach out for help. NPD and the underlying feelings of inadequacy can be treated. It not only benefits the individual, but also to people around them.

What treatment options are available?

People diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder will most likely work with a therapist using psychotherapy methods.

Other self-improving activities such as:-

  • Doing exercises and,
  • Hobbies may be used in conjunction with therapy.

Coming to a conclusion, we do live in a very materialistic and Consumersious society and as long as that’s the case, narcissism is going to win because it’s about putting yourself first and not caring as much about others. Not to mention people with NPD can be very generous when it’s going to get them what they need. They may buy everyone big dinners and take everyone on a big vacation so it creates this illusion that there’s lots of people all around them, because it’s all the stuff that they’re making possible for them. It’s important to know that treatment is available and that life can be made more manageable.

Advertisement

Attraction

Ever thought why do we get attract to someone? Well everyone has different answer to it. For some it can be the way one look, smiled, walk or may be their was an unusual aura around that one.

What is attraction?

Attraction, especially in a romantic way, is a complex process that take place in our brains, and has had it’s roots since it’s beginning of the humankind. It’s our minds way of telling us who has the potential to be our partner, our friend, or even our soulmate, and is based on a complex blend of our interest, values, experience, and desire. Physical and romantic attraction, which are often focused on, are only small facets of a much larger equation.

Psychologist look at the ingredients of attraction is in a form of pyramid, split into 4 different sections.

The base of the pyramid is made up of health and status:-

  • Status – 1. internal (confidence, self set, beliefs) 2. External (person’s job, possession and appearance.
  • Health – Physical attributes, smell, basic level of intelligence.

If the potential partners passes these initial requirements then we move to the center of the pyramid, which are the emotional factors:- includes

  • trust comfort someone wants,
  • their emotions intelligence, and
  • unique characteristics.

The final portion of the pyramid is “Logic”.This is the part that differentiate us from other animals, and is the part where our brains seriously

  • considers whether we are totally compatible for that person.
  • It ensure that the other person is aligned with us in term of what they want – things such as marriage, children, even the city they want to live.

According to this model, the more alignment there is, the more attraction there is, but it doesn’t always have to follow from bottom to top – like online dating.

What makes someone Attractive?

The answer to this questions make come to our mind is physical traits. Due to the influence of media, we tend to favor women who is younger, and more feminine features, in men on the other side, qualities such as broad shoulders, a deep voice, and strong jawline are highly upon.

Scientists suggest that, these also have an evolutionary origin because these traits are associated with a higher chance of producing health offspring and passing of good genes. Also, values, culture, and the environment, that we grow in also plays an important role.

Hence, attractiveness is complex, there’s a number of different perspective to consider, and at the end of the day, there’s very little we can choosing who we are attracted to. As each person looks for unique set of traits and, while physical traits are often focused there are far more factors that come into play. A person’s upbringing, behavior and even lifestyle have major influence. The most important thing to remember is to be happy and make the most of it.

Top 10 Interesting Psychological Facts in 2020


Humans are the most advanced creatures on the planet because they are born with ideas and thinking capabilities that are store in an organ called to mind. However, there are some interesting Psychological Facts which even the mind can boggle. The mind is the most critical and essential part of humans through which they are distinguished from all other living beings. The scientific study to know the behaviour and nature of the thinking capacity of the mind are called psychology.

Psychology tracks the activities human minds like how we think, what we think in a particular situation, how we learn, how we feel attract or negative about something, there are a lot of things that are going on in our minds. Through several surveys, researches, practical studying of human minds, many psychologists working in different parts of the world, listed out the enormous interesting psychological facts, describing unknown sides of human behaviour.

The American Association of Psychological Association considers that facts are invisible and inaudible but are the basis of human cooperation and thinking. So the psychological facts reveal many aspects and responses of the human mind.

Some of interesting Psychological Facts 

Many psychologists are involved in taking out all the aspects of human behaviour but tracking all over human nature is impossible but many types of research and studies have taken out several interesting facts of the human mind. Every year American based psychologists, as well as another psychiatrist of the world, is bringing many new psychological facts, some of the most interesting psychological facts of 2020 area as follows:

  • The person who always keeps on advising others is himself dealing with many troubles of life.
  • Communication has the power to either ruin our mood or makes us happy. Good communication helps to reduce stress.
  • The people who quickly recognised their mistakes and feel guilty, they quickly understand other person’s feelings.
  • Music is the best stress reliever and listening to happy songs in a high volume gives a feeling of joyousness.
  • Trying those things that scare the people most gives a feeling of happiness and relaxation.
  • If a person is happy enough then sleeping much in not essential to give rest to the body. Happiness has the power to relax the body.
  • Travelling is the best medicine of stress and reduces the risk of heart problems.
  • Sometimes people easily write those things which they can’t speak. They prefer chatting instead of speaking with others.
  • People who expose their success goals, there are fewer chances of fulfilling them as the person lose motivation.
  • The smarter the person is, the sloppier will be his handwriting and he becomes more selective.

These psychological facts reveal many aspects of human behaviour and mind that come into existence after various researches and deep analysis.

Psychological facts about Love

Psychology studies the behaviour of human minds, loving others is also one of the critical aspects of our minds. The mystery of love is still not known as it is very complicated and difficult to explain in words. But with close analysis, the feeling of love is incorporated by many psychologists into some interesting facts. Some of the important psychological facts about love are as follows-

  • Psychologists prove that humans take just 4 minutes to fall in love.
  • The person cannot remain angry on their love partners for more than 3 days and if he remains angry for more than this period than there is no love between them.
  • If the ‘I LOVE YOU’ is said in the left ear than it causes a huge emotional impact on the mind of the person.
  • Even if two lovers remain in contact as a friend than it means that either they are still in love or they were never in love with each other.
  • Love partners who spend at least happy ten minutes of the day together then they will likely to remain together for a long time.
  • These wonderful psychological facts about love reveal that love is a very complicated feeling in humans

Psychological facts about Hot Shower

Every small thing has a big impact on our mind. Even taking a shower affects our mind. The time we spend taking the shower and the type of water we use for bathing reveals many aspects of our mind and behaviour. There are some interesting psychological facts about hot shower-

  • If a person spends a long time taking the shower with hot water reveals that he lonely from inside.
  • Taking a hot shower for a long time gives the person the feeling of togetherness that he is searching for in real life.
  • It reveals that taking a long shower with warm water helps to avoid loneliness.
  • The warm shower increases the body temperature which gives a feeling of togetherness and impact positively on various body parts.
  • The lonely person usually takes a long hot shower.

Thus, these are some of the most believable psychological facts about hot shower that is revealed by many renowned psychologists of the world.

Psychological facts about Dreams

One of the important and mysterious thinking capacity of the mind is dreaming. Dreams reveal many aspects of the human mind thinking and some of the interesting psychological facts about dreams are as follows-

  • 90 per cent of the dreams that we see during sleeping got deleted from our mind. Within just 5 minutes of waking up, we forget the dream.
  • People think that as people who don’t see, they can’t even able to see dreams. But it is not true even blinds to have the capacity to see dreams.
  • It is revealed that even people with sight see uncoloured or black and white dreams.
  • Emotions and dreams have a direct relationship if we are anxious and negative thoughts overlapped our mind than we usually see bad dreams.
  • Even animals too can see dreams while sleeping.
  • Whatever we were thinking before we start sleeping, then there are high chances that those things we see in our dreams. 

These are some of the interesting psychological facts about dreams that come after close analysis and surveying of the various people.

Conclusion

The human mind is a very complicated and critical thing to understand. Many psychologists all around the world are focusing on and analysing the people of different age groups, nature, profession, preferences to take out the possible facts about humans. Although many psychological facts have already revealed many are still unknown as human behaviour and thinking keeps on changing with time and space.

Many psychologists are working to bring everything that how the human mind thinks, reacts, response, and gets alert when a change happens in his surroundings. The human is very complicated to understand but many psychologists reveal these cognitive actions into psychological facts that reveals many aspects of the human mind.

Advertisements

By Megha sharma

Posted in Internship

Things to expect from your first counselling or therapy session

A counselling session is meant to help a person with certain mental or emotional problems and giving them advice and suggestions on how to cope up with them. Counselling is done primarily for the purpose of solving issues related to mental health . Major issues that have become common today are depression , anxiety , bipolar disorder and trauma which can even lead to an outcome as drastic as suicide.
Therapy can prove to be a very effective solution for such mental issues . There are many types of therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy , psychoanalytic therapy , exposure therapy etc. Talking to a psychologist or doing some activities as directed by them can make changes in your overall mental and emotional health. You should choose your therapist according to your needs and convenience , for example if a girl feels more comfortable in sharing her experience with a woman then she can choose a female therapist .

When you sit for your first counselling session , there are some things which you can expect to happen . First of all , you may feel overwhelmed while sharing your experience with the therapist and it is totally normal . If you feel like crying , then you should cry . There is no need to hold back as you are sitting in the therapy to solve your problems . Giving an honest and true account of your feelings and emotions is important.

Your first session is not the only session you are going to sit for , there will be many in the coming future. So dont expect big results from your first experience . A mental issue that has developed over years or months needs time . Change will happen slowly and it will take some time to again start feeling better.

You should try sharing maximum with your therapist . Dont try to hide anything unless and until it is really something that you dont want anyone to know. There is no need to feel ashamed or judged as everyone makes mistakes . Make full use of your space and be comfortable before your start interaction . The therapist is not sitting there to judge you or punish you.

At some stage you may feel that sitting for the session was probably a mistake or you should not have done this . Remember you must have come for counselling only after feeling that there is no other option. If you feel that your therapist is not able to understand you appropriately or you dont feel that you struck a vibe or rythm with them , then you can very well change your therapist. You are not supposed to proceed if you dont feel so.

Your first session may be a little overbearing and can leave you feel light headed at the same time. You may feel guilt , remorse , anger or irritation while interacting and calm , relaxed and peaceful after the session.

Overall , your first counselling session is supposed to set you on a path to recovery from a mental issue. Dont be nervous or afraid as it is not an examination or a test . One thing that you can do to avoid being a little spontaneous during the session is to plan what you want to say and how you to say that. Planning will aid you in sharing your experience in a systematic manner . Take your time to plan and try to stick to your plan. So psych yourself up and All the very best to you for your first session !

Hyperthyroidism Awareness

It is important to remember that hyperthyroidism can occur at any age. While most may present with a rather typical constellation of symptoms, many may present with exacerbation of pre-existing conditions which may make the diagnosis initially elusive. Worsening anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, panic attacks, palpitations, hypertension or diarrhea may not initially signal that the thyroid is involved. Clinicians must have a low threshold to check thyroid function early to rule out a component of hyperthyroidism.

Once a suppressed thyrotropin (TSH) has been detected, further investigation with serum triiodothyronine (T3) and free thyroxine (free T4) can help delineate overt from subclinical disease. A thorough history of past thyroid disease, as well as current medications and supplements, can help detect any pre-existing diagnoses or exogenous sources of thyroid hormone or over supplementation with iodine. More commonly, hyperthyroidism is due to either Graves disease, toxic multinodular goiter or toxic adenoma. Distinction between these can usually be made with the assistance of a thyroid uptake scan, TSH receptor antibody measurement, and thyroid ultrasound. An additional physical exam finding of exophthalmos can further support the diagnosis of Graves’ disease. Understanding the etiology can help guide patient expectations. A small percentage of patients with Graves’ Disease may undergo spontaneous remission after 1 to 2 years, which may prompt patients to wait before considering a definitive treatment option.

With confirmation of the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, focus is on hormonal control with an antithyroid medication (ATM, most commonly Methimazole in the United States). This may be augmented with beta-blockade, steroids, cholestyramine or SSKI for those who are difficult to control.

Many patients may need further consideration for definitive management with either radioactive iodine ablation (RAI) or thyroidectomy. Your local resources may also influence these options, but it is critical to understand that all three treatments (ATM, RAI and thyroidectomy) are possible options. Certain patient factors and priorities may alter the preferred definitive treatment. Smaller gland size, easy to control hormones, and lack of eye symptoms are factors that may favor continued ATM management. A large goiter with compressive symptoms, difficult to control hormones requiring high dose medications/ multiple modalities, pregnancy, severe eye disease, multiple nodules within the thyroid with or without thyroid cancer, or desire for rapid and reliable hormone control may favor thyroidectomy. RAI is a good option for patients with a smaller gland size, and a desire to pursue definitive management but avoid surgery.

There are also relative contraindications for treatment options. ATMs may have serious side effects, like agranulocytosis or liver failure, which prevent further use, or may cause skin eruptions making long term use intolerable. Additionally, high dose requirements or fluctuating doses may make long term use of ATMs not reliable. Women who are pregnant, wanting to become pregnant in the next 6 months to 1 year, breast feeding or have small children in the home will want to avoid RAI. Patients with severe eye involvement, have a large goiter with compressive symptoms, or are smokers should also avoid RAI. Thyroidectomy will be a poor option for patients with multiple previous neck operations on or around the thyroid due to internal scarring, or who are high risk for general anesthesia. Additionally, if they have a history of previous gastric bypass surgery, they are higher risk for major complications from hypocalcemia/hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy.

To help the patient navigate these decisions, it is important to allow them the opportunity to discuss each treatment option with respective physician experts – medical management with endocrinology, RAI with endocrinology and potentially nuclear medicine as well, and thyroidectomy with the thyroid surgeon.

In summary, patients with hyperthyroidism require medical control, as well as a clear understanding of the etiology of their hyperthyroidism. Patients with Graves disease, toxic multinodular goiter and toxic adenoma have more than one treatment option, and it is important for patients to be educated and engaged in treatment decisions.

For Further Reference:
American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Hyperthyroidism and other causes of Thyrotoxicosis| by the American Thyroid Association

I’m different

I have heard people talking about me being different from other children, since my childhood. My neighbor Aunties, my class teacher discussing with other teachers she is too shy, cannot mix-up well with her classmates, always lost in her own world. That time I was in 3rd standard. And I used to wonder why? What makes me different from other children, why my elders find me different or something abnormal in me… but my classmates never made me feel any different, I had 4-5 good friends and 1 best friend with them I was fully comfortable. From class 1st to 8th, I was in same school and well settled, there was no issue because my classmates have seen me from 7 years and they accepted me as I am, at that time nobody could point out me to be different. Everything was going well and I forgot what people said about me earlier, that time I didn’t feel I’m different from others and I was always excited to go to school.

Then I got promoted to 9th class and my father Got transfer to another City. It took me 2-3 months to adjust there it was hard for me as that was a big change after so many years but I still managed because there also I got a good batch they were very friendly helpful. But after a year, I was in 10th my Father again got transfer and this time it really made a dent in my self confidence. Ya, I am an introvert and I take time to get comfortable with others and I need time to make friends, but others should also try to make me feel comfortable, friendship does not go one way. as I was new in the class that too 10th class lot of pressure of studies, the teachers were also so rude and they didn’t help me to cop up with studies as I have came in the middle of the session nobody helped me. rather my maths teacher started saying I’m abnormal, then I failed in maths half-yearly exam for the first time I had failed in any subject, I got depressed and teachers said I won’t pass 10th, they suggested my parents for drop out that year. I suffered a lot of health problems due to maladjustment, but somehow I managed to score 76% in 10th board exams. Class 10th was the worst year of my school life. I did my 12th also from that school and those 3 years were like prison for me, I had no friends there some students used to bully me because I don’t talk much, but that’s their point of view, I’m talkative around right people:-)

Now I’m in 2nd year in college, I have many friends but not any best friend but that’s okay…I have learned to walk alone. I need to overcome my shyness but being an introvert is my nature..I can’t change it and there is no harm in being a bit different:-)

Anxiety-Mind’s own prison

Nowadays people associate the word anxiety only with mental illness but anxiety is just an emotion like happiness, sadness, etc.  It is quite a familiar emotion which we come across seldom in our day to day life like, before taking a test, pressure at work. Occasional anxiety is “OK”. But anxiety disorders are different with constant fear and overwhelming.

Causes

  • Stress at workplace
  • Emotional trauma such as the death of a beloved one
  • Use of prohibited drugs like cocaine
  • Maybe a symptom of heart related problems
  • Emphysema or Pulmonary embolism,etc.

Symptoms

  • Feeling nervous, restless or tense
  • Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
  • Having an increased heart rate
  • Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems

During this lockdown, the levels of depression and anxiety are much higher than usual in the society. Surprisingly, exposure to the coronavirus itself has had minimal impact on people’s mental health rather,  the social disruption had a much more effect. People confined in their houses has both negative and positive impacts; positive because people can spend more time with their families than before and negative as humans are social animals and disconnecting from the outside world, friends, relatives is the cause of a frustrating environment in the house. This change in scenario might fuel anxiety and depression.

GAD-Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder(GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder. It is characterized by persistent, excessive worrying about everyday events and activities which the person finds difficult to control. People with GAD find that their worry is excessive (blowing things out of proportion), difficult to control and pervasive. People are often tempted to avoid threatening situations, but if you do, the anxiety will be worse the next time you are in that situation. The best strategy is to confront the feared situation. Usually, it is better than you thought, and if not, you will have learned valuable coping skills by confronting your fears.

People with GAD should work toward challenging their beliefs and assumptions about themselves. For example, your worry might be “I’ll never be prepared in time,” which may be accompanied by the assumption that “if anything goes wrong, it’s my fault” and the underlying belief that “I am a failure.” Cognitive therapy strategies can help you identify and challenge these assumptions and develop alternative and more realistic beliefs.

The Six Structured Problem Solving Technique-

This technique is a simple yet as effective as medication for people dealing with GAD or any type of anxiety.

  • Write down exactly what you believe the main problem to be.
  • Write down all possible solutions, even bad ones. *
  • Think about each solution in practical terms.
  • Choose the most practical solution.
  • Plan how you will carry that solution out.
  • Do it.

image courtesy-TOI

Why Therapy Can Be Therapeutic

There is always hope, even when you’re brain tells you there isn‘t.. (John Green)

I mentioned talking about your emotions and sharing your problems in few essays. Talking is majorly underrated. It can help us look at things differently. Even though there is a low chance that the other person will be able to solve the problem you are facing, but they will surely give you enough strength and courage to face that problem head on.

As I say that, I also realize that not everyone has a person who will give them their time and listen to them. Now, that’s where therapy enters our scene. Sometimes, our problems are so complicated that we can’t feel comfortable about talking to someone whom we trust. It’s not because we don’t trust them enough. It’s because we fear their judgement. No matter what, humans have a natural tendency to judge. Sometimes you may not feel like communicating with your known ones about your problems. Or sometimes, you might just yourself be unaware of what the problem is in the first place. Or… You might just not be able to trust anyone.

In the above mentioned cases, one must without giving it a second thought, approach a mental health professional. They not only protect our story because confidentialily is crucial but also help you open up about it. I must stress here that counselling is not merely giving information or advice. It helps you look into your subconscious and thoroughly guide you through the process of finding your peace of mind. You have to invest time yes. But the time you invest when you go for therapy ultimately helps you grow into a better and happier version of yourself.

Therapy basically provides you with a safe space, where you are first made comfortable. A therapist ethically cannot judge you. They help you realize the true goal of your life. They bring out those problems into light which are deeply hidden in your unconscious and are the fire cause of your distress.

All psychotherapists help you in modifying your habits and lessen the emotional burden that you have been carrying for so long. To top all of that people suffering from any sort of trauma or mental disorder should never blindly follow any random person’s advice. If a person feels like their problem is deeper than they thought, by approaching a professional, you are able to get diagnosed and get the right treatment.

Therapy is used for treating all sorts of disorders ranging from eating disorders to stress related disorders to multiple personality disorder to depression and many more. Therapies can go on for years at a stretch. But it is always worth it. Specially disorder that threaten not only your lives but also those around you are always treatable. All you have to do is have faith in yourself and be willing to work on your mental health. These days because the current situation, therapies have even launched themselves online. This is a time where people who were already distressed and troubled are going through the worst of their days, where they just feel worthless.

But they should remember that they are worth it. Their mental health is worth it. They themselves are the only ones who can truly help themselves. Stay hopeful. Times are distressing. Times are difficult but their is always hope if they are willing to work on themselves. You are a star and you are definitely worth it!