Psychological Disorders Essay Example for Free

Psychological Disorders Essay Psychological Disorder Analysis This psychological analysis is about Maria a 42 year old Hispanic female who comes into the mental health clinic complaining of feeling jumpy all of the time, she has trouble sleeping and is enable to concentrate on her work as an accountant. These symptoms are causing problems for her at work. There can be many causes for her symptoms but to get to the root of her issue a clinical assessment, diagnoses, and proper treatment for her disorder will be submitted. Maria comes into the clinic complaining of having trouble sleeping, feeling jumpy all the time, she has trouble concentrating on her work which seems to be causing an issue. A clinical interview is done first on Maria to attain some background information. Clinical interviews questions are 1. What brings her to the clinic? 2. When did these feelings start and did an event trigger them? 3. Do these feelings last long? 4. What is her relationship with her parents? 5. What is her relationship with her siblings? 6. What type of work does she do? 7. What are her romantic relationships like? 8. What was her childhood experiences like? 9. What makes her happy? 10. Does she have any medical problems or medication she is taking? A possible disorder is causing her symptoms. Because information was not given concerning her background, family or social life Maria’s symptoms coincide with Dysthymic Disorder with major depression (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Dysthymic Disorder is known as double depression (Comer, 2011). It has symptoms of chronic and low level depression which reduces one’s ability to function. Some individuals with Dysthymia experience insomnia, or hypersomnia, poor appetite and overeating. They also experience poor concentration or have difficulty making decisions. Some fail to attend to daily hygiene, some experience low energy and low self esteem which cause them to overlook their daily duties or job responsibilities (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Most say they have been unhappy or sad all of their lives which cause them not maintain healthy relationships (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Dysthymia also causes changes in feeling, thinking, and physical well-being (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Dysthymic disorder share symptoms with major depression. Both disorders share symptoms such as sleep difficulties, shyness, and social withdrawal; poor work performance,  irritability, and conflict with family and friends (University Of Phoenix, 2007). The main difference between the two disorders is the intensity and duration of the disorder. With major depression symptoms are more severe such as the individual may be so depressed they cannot get out of bed and have thoughts of suicide whereas with Dysthymia the depression is more muted where the person is able to function on some level, he or she may be getting out of bed, but they may not groom themselves (University Of Phoenix, 2007). The other difference is major depression needs episodes that last for at least two weeks whereas dysthymic disorder symptoms persist for at least two years (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Major depression is also common with minorities. Minority groups that live below poverty or come from family wh ose environment was impoverished tend to suffer from depression in higher numbers (Comer, 2011). Gender also plays a role in major depression women are twice as likely as men to receive a diagnosis of depression (Comer, 2011). To assess her case the DSM-IV is used. According to what Maria says her symptoms meet the criteria on the DSM-IV. Maria must display two of her symptoms for a period of 2 weeks or longer (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Maria did not indicate in this case study how long she had been experiencing symptoms. The case study did not indicate Maria’s dress condition or hygiene neither did it indicate that she was shy or socially withdrawn. Maria may have developed dysthymic disorder through a behavioral process called learned helplessness. (University Of Phoenix, 2007). During an experiment dogs were placed in a cage with barricades and were exposed to a stimulus light which was followed by a shock (University Of Phoenix, 2007). They learned quickly through classical conditioning to fear the light (University Of Phoenix, 2007). In phase two of the experiment the shock was turned off and when the first group of dogs was exposed to the light they jumped over the barricade jumping to safety (Comer, 2011). When the second group of dogs encountered a large barrier they could not jump from the fear producing light to safety. When the light came on they ran around the cage barking and when they discovered escape was impossible they lay down and whimpered (University Of Phoenix, 2007). In ph ase 3 of this experiment all the barriers were removed, and the dogs could escape easily however, when the light came on the dogs that had been trapped made no effort to leave the cage, instead they lay down and whimpered (University Of Phoenix, 2007). What the experiment revealed is the dogs learned that even though they can escape nothing they can do will improve their conditions so in effect the dogs learned to be helpless (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Because Maria is Hispanic the multicultural perspective plays a role. Because of social norms, family structure, and background this should be all taken into account with minorities. Maria probably grew in an impoverish environment. Research shows that Hispanics are more likely to live a poorer environment that White American (Comer, 2011). Maria may feel that her life was precondition to remain this way even though she has made a life for herself as an accountant. Just like the dogs in her thinking she feels nothing she can do will change her conditions, even though she has opportunities to improve her life she has learned to be helpless which makes her sad and depressed which are symptoms of the disorder (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Multicultural research also shows that prejudice and discrimination against multicultural groups leads to higher anxiety and depression in minorities (Comer, 2011). Other probably causes for Maria’s disorder is a biological imbalance or hormonal imbalance like those seen in major depression. Biological theorist believes abnormal behavior as an illness is brought on by a malfunctioning organism in the brain or brain chemistry (Comer, 2011). The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells called neurons (Comer, 2011). When an electrical impulse reaches a neuron it is stimulated to release a certain chemical called a neurotransmitter which travels to receptors (Comer, 2011). These receptors travel to other neurons telling them to fire or not fire (Comer, 2011). Neurotransmitters play a key role in carrying information through the brain. In Maria’s case her neurotransmitters may be defective causing her symptoms (Comer, 2011). A hormonal imbalance can also trigger depressio n (Comer, 2011). A woman’s biological life changes as she ages triggering different hormone levels (Comer, 2011). Although hormonal changes cannot alone cause depression alone important social and life events that occur with puberty, pregnancy, or menopause can (Comer, 2011). To treat dysthymic disorder biological treatments such as psychotherapy and medications like Prozac and Tofranil have proven to be helpful in reducing symptoms (University Of Phoenix, 2007). A variety of psychotherapeutic approaches can work as well. Cognitive behavioral therapy can challenge Marias unrealistic ideas,  pessimistic expectations and self-critical evaluations (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Therapy can help her to have a more positive outlook on her life, and can help her to prioritize both opportunities and challenges concerning her life (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Multicultural treatments such as culture-sensitive therapy can be used in which the therapist addresses issues faced by minority groups (Comer, 2011). In addition behavioral oriented therapy can help her adapt better coping skills and help her communicate more effectively with friends and coworkers (University Of Phoenix, 2007). In this case study Maria went to the mental health clinic complaining of having trouble sleeping, feeling jumpy all the time, an inability to concentrate on her work as an accountant. Interview questions were asked which lead to a diagnosis of dysthymic disorder with major depression. Probable causes for her disorder are rooted in a neuro chemical imbalance or a learned helplessness from her environment (University Of Phoenix, 2007). Treatment for dysthymic disorder is psychotherapy and medication to reduce the symptoms (University Of Phoenix, 2007).

Gender Issues of Mesopotamia Essay -- Gilgamesh Gender Female Rights E

Gender Issues of Mesopotamia  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout the history of our society, women have gained a certain respect and certain rights over time. Such simple aspects of life such as getting a job, voting, and even choosing who they would like to marry are things that women have fought for, for many years. At one point, these were all things that women in America and parts of Europe had no right to. Men as a whole had suppressed women and taken control of the society. Despite mass oppression in history, women have risen in society and now posses these natural rights.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Back in the days of Mesopotamia, things were quite different. Women were respected for who they were and did not have to fight to gain the rights they had. Hammurabi’s Code contained laws, which respected the rights of women. Society in general was formed around this sort of sexual equality. Many of the codes within Hammurabi’s Code favor the men of the society, though many of them spell out certain rights for the lives of the women. Certain laws lie within Hammurabi’s code in order to solve problems of the society. It spells out the punishment for certain acts eliminating any further complications. Code 136 for example, explains what is to happen to a women who’s husband runs off; â€Å"If any one leave his house, run away, and then his wife go to another house, if then he return, and wishes to take his wife back: because he fled from his home and ran away, the wife of this runaway shall not retur...

Essay on the Stranger Essay

In the novel the Stranger by Albert Camus, the protagonist Meursault is characterized as emotionless, uncaring, and indifferent, though he is actually an understanding, insightful man who is pleased with a simple, modest life. His lack of emotion towards the superfluous and superficial, along with his lack of judgment for other people’s choices do not make him indifferent; they in fact show how he demonstrates Albert Camus’ philosophy of Absurdism. It is through the characterization of Meursault that the greater theme of Absurdism and the absurdity of life are conveyed. Meursault is often seen as cold and impassive towards others. He is actually characterized in this detached way to personify and embody Camus’ philosophy, and his rejection of the established and predictable. One day when Meursault is spending the day with Marie, she asks him if he would marry her and he says â€Å"it didn’t make any difference† and that they â€Å"could if she wanted to† (41). Most view marriage as an important occasion with many consequences and a lifetime commitment. Meursault’s reaction to Marie’s question is honest and straight forward, and his nonchalance serves to weaken the importance of institutionalized principles. Later, Marie wonders to herself if she loves him, and Meursault says that â€Å"there is no way [he] could know that† (42), as it is not possible for Meursault to know what others feel. This implies that a person’s emotions are determined by the individual, and demonstrates the Absurdist thought that no two people can have the exact same emotions and beliefs, and therefore there can be no shared meaning concerning an emotion. When speaking with his lawyer, Meursault is asked how he felt about his mother’s death, and he says that he â€Å"would rather Maman hadn’t died† (65), which shocks his lawyer. Meursault could be perceived as cold and indifferent for not expressing more emotion towards his mother’s death, but he is simply expressing the absurdist belief that one can have many different emotions and that having a mold or standard for a way a person should feel during a specific situation is absurd. Meursault is simply conveying that emotions he felt for his mother such as love are too intangible to define. Camus portrays Meursault as being very non-judgmental and blase towards other characters actions. This is not because Meursault is emotionless or apathetic, but because it conveys Camus’ belief in personal meaning instead of shared meaning imposed by society. Raymond asks Meursault if â€Å"he’d mind writing him a letter right then†¦ [And he] said no† (32), even though the letter would eventually hurt Raymond’s ex girlfriend. Meursault agrees, not because he is rude or uncaring, but because he is just doing his friend a favor, and because he doesn’t judge others based on a standard set of morals. Before Meursault is scheduled to be executed, the Chaplain attempts for the second time to convince Meursault to embrace Christianity like others before him so that he may be saved. Meursault â€Å"acknowledg[es] that that was their right† (117), but does not agree because he is acting in the Absurdist mindset that judging others based on your own principles is wrong. Meursault goes on to try to convince the Chaplain that a person’s value is not measured by society, for one person could see him as very bad, where as another views him as very good. Meursault’s nature and ability to understand that it is up to the individual to build their own beliefs and values demonstrates the Absurdist belief that every person has the right to assign personal meaning to a part of their life, rather than take from the meaning imposed on their life by society. Camus defines Absurdism as â€Å"the confrontation between man’s desire for significance, meaning and clarity on the one hand – and the silent, cold universe on the other†. Meursault, who is capable of embracing the universe’s silence, especially when facing his own death is what makes him the Absurd hero, and ultimately humanize the Absurd philosophy. Camus uses the character of Meursault to convey the message that it is up to the individual to assign meaning to their life through embracing reality, and to avoid becoming trapped by societal ideals and the â€Å"shared meaning† imposed by humanity. One should not allow fear to limit them.

Life of Squanto, Native American Who Guided the Pilgrims

Tisquantum, better known by his nickname Squanto, was a member of the Patuxet band of the Wampanoag tribe. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but historians estimate that he was born around 1580. Squanto is best known for his work as a guide and interpreter for early settlers in Southern New England. His advice and assistance were integral to the survival of early Pilgrims, including the Mayflower Pilgrims. Fast Facts: Squanto Full Name: TisquantumNickname: Squanto  Known For: Serving as a liaison between Native American populations and Mayflower PilgrimsBorn: Circa 1580 in southern New England (now Massachusetts, United States)Died: 1622 in Mamamoycke (now Chatham, Massachusetts, United States)Key Accomplishments:  Helped early Pilgrims survive harsh, unfamiliar conditions. Early Years Very little is known about Squantos early years. Historians dont know exactly when or where he was born. They don’t know who his parents were or whether or not he had any siblings. However, they do know that he was a member of the Wampanoag tribe, and specifically the Patuxet band. The Patuxet lived primarily on coastal land in the area that is present day Plymouth, Massachusetts. They spoke an Algonquian dialect. It is believed that the band Squanto was born into contained more than 2,000 people at one point. However, written records of Patuxet are non-existent, since potential firsthand observers from England arrived after the members of the Patuxet were killed out by a plague. Years in Bondage A few historians have suggested that Squanto may have been kidnapped in 1605 by George Weymouth and taken to England before returning to North America in 1614, but modern historians do not believe there is evidence to support that theory. However, Squanto and several other members of the Patuxet were kidnapped in 1614 by Thomas Hunt, an English explorer and human trafficker. Hunt took Squanto and the others to Malaga, Spain and sold them into slavery. With the help of Spanish friars, Squanto escaped and traveled to England. He took a job with John Slaney, who sent him to Newfoundland in 1617. Squanto met explorer Thomas Dermer and eventually traveled with him back to North America. When Squanto returned to his homeland in 1619, he found his village empty. In 1617, a great plague had wiped out the Patuxet and other Native American tribes in the Massachusetts Bay region. He set out in search of survivors, but didn’t find any. He eventually returned to work with Dermer, who was engaging in skirmishes with native populations. Squantos Work With Settlers Squantos time in England equipped him with a unique set of skills. Unlike most other Native Americans, he was able to speak English, which allowed him to act as a liaison between the settlers and Native American tribes. He interpreted conversations and served as a guide for the settlers. Squanto is credited with teaching the Pilgrims how to grow plants and use natural resources. His guidance helped them survive their first year. Squanto was also instrumental when it came to skirmishes with some of the other Native Americans in the area. Some tribes did not appreciate the fact that he was helping the strange people from England. This caused problems for Squanto, who was once captured by a neighboring tribe. He was able to gain freedom from bondage once again and worked with the Pilgrims until his death. Death Squanto died in November of 1622. At the time, he was serving as a guide for William Bradford, the governor of the Plymouth settlement. Bradford wrote that Squanto grew sick with fever and died several days later. Some historians, including writer Nathaniel Philbrick, have suggested that Squanto may have been poisoned by Massasoit, but this is just speculation, as there is no proof that a murder was committed. It is believed that Squanto was buried in the village of Chatham Port, but this detail, like many of the details of Squantos life, may or may not be true. Legacy Squanto played an integral role in the survival of early settlers, but one could argue that he isnt always given the credit he deserves. Although there are many statues and memorials dedicated to the Pilgrims in Massachusetts, Squanto has not been memorialized in the same way: there  are no major statues or memorials to Squanto in the area. Despite the lack of memorials, Squantos name remains relatively well-known. This can, in part, be attributed to his representation in films and animated programs. Squanto was the focus of the Disney animated film â€Å"Squanto: A Warriors Tale,† released in 1994. The film was very loosely based on Squantos life, but did not provide a very accurate portrayal of historical events. Squanto also appeared in an episode of the animated series â€Å"This Is America, Charlie Brown,† which aired on television in 1988. The cartoon depicted the journey of the Pilgrims and detailed how Native Americans, like Squanto, helped the Pilgrims survive the hardships of the New World. Like the Disney film, the Charlie Brown cartoon was created for children and glossed over the darker details of English settlement. The most accurate historical portrayal of Squanto in popular culture is in the National Geographics â€Å"Saints Strangers.† This two-part mini-series appeared on television during 2015 and depicted the Mayflower journey and the Pilgrims first year in North America. It should also be noted that Squantos legacy includes appearances in history textbooks. Unfortunately, most of the depictions of Squantos life are derived from the historical writings of English Separatists, which incorrectly portray Squanto as  a noble savage. History is now beginning to correct the record of Squantos legacy. Sources Baumann, Nick. â€Å"Heres The Crazy Story About Thanksgiving Youve Never Heard.†Ã‚  The Huffington Post, 25 Nov. 2015, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/thanksgiving-squanto-tisquantum-true-history_us_565471e1e4b0d4093a5917bb.Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. â€Å"Squanto.†Ã‚  Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 29 Oct. 2017, www.britannica.com/biography/Squanto.â€Å"Squanto.†Ã‚  Biography.com, AE Networks Television, 22 Nov. 2017, www.biography.com/people/squanto-9491327.â€Å"Squanto.†Ã‚  Gale Library of Daily Life: Slavery in America, Encyclopedia.com, 2018, www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/north-american-indigenous-peoples-biographies/squanto.