PsychSense: Sensible Psychological Solutions

The recent story in the NY Times about a psychiatrist who was stabbed to death

and another who was critically injured brings up many fears about the mentally ill. It is a horrible very sad event, but it is important to keep in perspective the facts regarding mental illness and violence. Here are the numbers that may help to do that.

Violence in male persons with schizophrenia is 5.5% higher then in the “normal population”

Violence in women with schizophrenia is 5-9 times higher. (Women have much less violence rates to begin with)
Persons with Schizophrenia who are violent are most often off their medication and psychotic (hearing voices or delusional)

Sooner or later most of us will be called upon to deal with some type of emergency or crisis. Do you have confidence that if such an event happened to you, you would be able to deal with it? If not here are a few hints to help you.

Lets face it, as much as we would like to, we can’t always avoid stress. Many times we are told to “reduce the stress in your life”; this is so much easier said then done! However, some factors have been identified that can help us deal with the inevitable stressors of live and protect against developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a Crisis. Research has shown that theses factors will help in making you more stress resistant.

1. Getting lots of physical exercise

2. Using active coping skills

3. Remaining positive in your outlook