Julia, the Muppet with Autism

Julia is the latest character to grace the big screen alongside pop culture giants Big Bird and Elmo. She is also the first Muppet to have autism. Autism is a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. Someone with autism may display inappropriate social interaction, poor eye contact, compulsive behavior, impulsivity, repetitive […]

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder#1 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), formerly considered a type of anxiety disorder, is now regarded as a unique condition. It is a potentially disabling illness that traps people in endless cycles of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. People with OCD are plagued by recurring and distressing thoughts, fears, or images (obsessions) they cannot control. The anxiety (nervousness) […]

Stigmatizing Mental Illness

I recently saw the movie Split, and I saw that there was some controversy surrounding the portrayal of Dissociative Identity Disorder. (DID) [formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder; I’ll leave a link to my post on this disorder and the controversy surrounding Harley Quinn and her disorders here: https://ukiskingdom.wordpress.com/2016/10/18/multiple-personality-disorder/ – https://ukiskingdom.wordpress.com/2016/10/31/harley-quinn-offensive/ ] It is important to remember that portrayals in movies can are […]

Romanticising Mental Illness (Graphic)

The romanticism of mental illness is inappropriate. Mental illnesses are real. They affect millions of people each and every year. It may be common, but it is not a social norm and should not be portrayed or treated as such. I can imagine coping with a mental illness can become extremely challenging when it’s shoved […]

What Is Psychosis? (Part 3/3)

http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/what-is-psychosis#1Psychosis is a symptom, not an illness. A mental or physical illness, substance abuse, or extreme stress or trauma can cause it. When you lose touch with reality and see, hear, or believe things that aren’t real, doctors call that psychosis.You may have delusions. That means you hold on to untrue or strange beliefs. You […]

What Is a Psychotic Disorder? (Part 2/3)

http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/mental-health-psychotic-disorders#1 Psychotic disorders are a group of serious illnesses that affect the mind. They make it hard for someone to think clearly, make good judgments, respond emotionally, communicate effectively, understand reality, and behave appropriately. When symptoms are severe, people with psychotic disorders have trouble staying in touch with reality and often are unable to handle […]

Psychotic Depression (Part 1/3)

http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/psychotic-depression#1 Psychotic depression is a subtype of major depression that occurs when a severe depressive illness includes some form of psychosis. The psychosis could be hallucinations (such as hearing a voice telling you that you are no good or worthless), delusions (such as, intense feelings of worthlessness, failure, or having committed a sin) or some […]

Guide to Psychiatry and Counseling

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/guide-to-psychiatry-and-counseling Psychiatry and psychology are overlapping professions. Practitioners in both — psychiatrists and psychologists — are mental health professionals. Their area of expertise is the mind — and the way it affects behavior and well-being. They often work together to prevent, diagnose, and treat mental illness. And both are committed to helping people stay mentally […]

Bipolar Disorder

http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/mental-health-bipolar-disorder#1 Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental illness that brings severe high and low moods and changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior. People who have bipolar disorder can have periods in which they feel overly happy and energized and other periods of feeling very sad, hopeless, and sluggish. In between […]

Catatonia

Catatonia, not the band, but the state of neurogenic motor immobility and behavioral abnormality. Catatonia is abnormality of movement and behavior arising from a disturbed mental state (typically schizophrenia). It may involve repetitive or purposeless over activity, or catalepsy, resistance to passive movement, and negativism. Catatonia may involve symptoms such as staying still, fast or strange movements, […]