PTSD Diagnosis up 50 % in Iraq Troups in 2007 according to an associated press article.

Is anyone  really suprised that acute stress reactions are very high in troups in Iraq?  I would think not. But the issue of  a PTSD diagnoses  is another matter altogether.   In my opinion PTSD  is a diagnosis in vogue these days that is overused (similar to  Bi-Polar disorder) .  I do not believe you do  justice to a person returning from combat by  labeling (and burdening) them with a diagnosis too quickly.

Question and Answer

I am a new nurse on a psychiatric inpatient unit. I was told that I was allowing a patient to “split.”  The person who said this to me seemed annoyed. Can you tell me what it means? What did I do wrong? I didn’t want to ask her.

 You may have heard the expression “splitting” as a description of the way that persons with personality disorders  relate to others.  Splitting is a coping mechanism (also called a defense mechanism) that is used by both persons with and without Borderline Personality Disorder.  It is a mechanism that is considered immature and is an unhealthy way to deal with disappointment in relationships.

Did you know that there are at at least four major relaxation techniques to reduce stress. Most people have a particular favorite. I often think that when people tell me they have not had success with relaxation techniques it is because they have not found the one that is right for them! We all respond differently to suggestion.

I personally have tried all 4 before I decided which one is best for me. Let me tell you about them.

Alcohol Use and Abuse:

It is not always easy to recognize when alcohol is becoming a problem for someone we love. First we do not want to see it and second the person is usually trying to hide it. Here are some clues to look for. Intoxication is usually easy to see. The signs of chronic use are more difficult to detect. Remember alcohol can become a problem for all ages. Older adults who live alone may be at high risk, as are adolescents. Here are some things to look for.

Sure Signs of Alcohol Intoxication

John Nash, Nobel prize winner, genius mathematician had Schizophrenia. He was played by

Russell Crowe in  the movie about his life  ” A Beautiful Mind”.

Question & Answer Post

Question

My whole family is very upset. My 19 year old brother is in the hospital. He can home from his freshman year at college and was acting very strange. He talks to himself and makes weird movements with his hands. My mother and I met with his psychiatrist who said my brother has schizophrenia and both positive and negative symptoms. Can you explain the difference between these? He gave some examples but I still don’t understand.

I am a great believer in the power of empathy, and view it as number one communication skill.

I really enjoyed this article that theorizes (not proves) that empathy can make people look alike, especially those that love one another.

I wanted to share it with you because it is an uplifting fun to read piece, take a look.

It makes sense to me, any opinions or comments?

Helping Professionals Especially Women, Must Learn to Take Care of Themselves.

This is much easier to say then do! Although there are more men in the helping professions today, in nursing and social work the vast majority are still women.

Womens’ Sense of self is Often One of Caretaker and Nurturer, and Society Enforces This View.

Nurturing and care taking have long been associated with women in general, and nurses and social workers in particular. Empathy is a mainstay of the helping professions, particularly the “women’s professions” such as nursing and social work. Nurturance has historically been intertwined with, and seen as a major function of nursing. Nursing has been called the “practice of professional nurturing”.

Vincent Van Gogh, believed to have Bipolar I Disorder

Questions by Readers.

Dear Dr Duffy,

I am confused about my daughters illness. She is in a residential treatment facility and we have had a terrible time trying to control her. She has been given a number of different diagnoses including Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder. My question is, is Bipolar and Schizophrenia the same. She seem to have many symptoms that could be either. How do the doctors know the difference between these illnesses? She is on many medications and although she is calmer I am still not able to control her at home. I don’t know what to do.