Delusions Everyday

Delusions and hallucinations are part of our daily lives. Many religions offer the delusion that a second coming of Christ, or apocalypse is eminent and it is usually not contradicted within the follower's belief system. Non-Christian religions have a similar answer to the Omega in that a prophet will be chosen to lead the way to the afterlife and this delusion holds true in beliefs whether it's prooven or disprooven. So it seems delusion is a way of life or a means to explain the end for many. This is known as a subset of delusions namely nihilistic delusion, meaning delusion about the end and also religious, grandiose delusions (APA, 2000). This discussion in religion and spirituality delusions may comfort any clients who may be facing a diagnosis of schizophrenia with delusions by relating how billions came into their beliefs or it may also open the door to existential therapy in those that are well and have come to recognize thinking or beliefs that by all objective means is known as deluded. Tread delicately on the distinction that their delusion may not be reinforced by the masses.

Hallucinations is something completely different from delusions in that sensory experiences are seemingly self-contained within an individual and experientially, it's a party of one, unlike delusions, which many can believe and experience. Good communication coupled with a vivid imagination is the only way someone can share one person's hallucination and even then it's second-hand account. Even in partaking in illegal substances, one's hallucination will be different from another's even if they took the same drug, at the same time, under the same circumstances. Each person's chemisty launches his or her trip. Questions pertaining to drug usage or abuse are essential in persons presenting in therapy with claims of delusions and hallucinations. Other clients presenting for help that may claim experience with hallucinations are those that are ill and carrying a fever, those that have not had adequate sleep, those in detox, and those with extreme imaginations or appear to be manic or coming off of mania. Given these, the most important thing to seek in client's reporting is the change in behavior and personality. That change is where the most truth resides for proper diagnosis.

This author is of the experience that certain guided imagery exercises during hypnosis can result in hallucinations and can be present in totally healthy clients, though within the safety of a psychologist and somewhat guided in a process of suggestion and perception. While under hypnosis images appear very real at the slightest suggestion and as the relaxation and guided imagery envelopes the client, it is controled by the therapist and one does reside in a different reality making suggestion all the more probable to whatever goal one's hypnosis aims to achieve. When “going under” is difficult, this author recalls hallucinations of colors and entities from her past blocking the hypnosis and they were skillfully called away by the hypnotist to get back to effective imagery while “going under”. Another difference being sometimes the client remembers the happenings of hypnotic hallucinations while others are suggested to forget their hallucinations inspired in hypnosis.

Though hallucinations are tandem with the stigma of schizophrenia and psychosis, this writer urges one to consider the totality of how delusions and hallucinations can present themselves and be within normal ranges of functionality. Indeed, many persons with schizophrenia can live productive lives though their internal life is of a greater experience than others. Still to be uncovered are issues around dopamine level differences (Seeman et al. 2005), whether persons with schizophrenia with high emotional intelligence can adapt their inner-world to the finesse needed in social situations (Green, 1999) and the genetic heritage of persons with schizophrenia.

References:

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Butcher, J. N., Mineka, S. & Hooley, J. L. (2010). Abnormal Psychology (14^th ed.). Boston, MA:

Green, M. (1999). Should schizophrenia be treated as a neurocognitive disorder. National Institute of Mental Health, Oxford University Press, U.K.

Seeman, P., Weinshenker, D., Quirion, R., Srivastava, K., Bhardwaj, K., Grandy, K., Premont, T., Sotnikova, D., (2005). Dopamine supersensitivity correlates with D2High states, implying many paths to psychosis Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Gold Digging Psychology

Gold digger (Urban dictionary, 2010):

“A girl that is only with a man because she wants his money; she'll spend it on jewelery, clothes, spa treatments, etc. Once he goes broke she'll go for another man that is rich or just plain financially stable.”

Popular culture has its many villains including gold-diggers. What may be coined as an evolutionary instinct has become a societal parasite to affluent men. In more primitive cultures it is widely accepted that women are biologically and therefore sexually motivated to seek out men that can provide to ensure that offspring will not only flourish but survive. Yet somehow, in modern society the woman as “gold-digger” is a villianesse. Aspects of why modern woman is motivated towards affluent provision will be discussed.

Maslow theorized on human motivation. Basic needs must be met before one moves onward to higher-order intellectual needs such as fulfillment in one's work or purpose in life. While that makes for a great theory on motivation, it doesn't illustrate much in what biological drives are inherent or perhaps intrinsic to get onward to the top of the hierarchy of needs. Indeed, if there might be a shortcut, why not take it? Placing morality aside, enter the idea of the gold digger.

The 1989 study conducted by Buss interprets a widely-accepted cultural value that transcends over 10,000 men and women across almost all continents. In this sexual motivation study it was found time and again that men highly valued good looks and limited sexual experience, while women sought good financial prospects and attributes of ambition and industriousness. (Rajecki et al., 1991; Sprecher et al.; 1994). Should this sexual motivational theory be considered valid given the scope, magnitude, and cross-cultural findings? It appears that beyond cultural norms, both women and men are hard-wired to seek certain, fundamental biological characteristics in their mate choosing practices.

Furthermore, why is their a cultural distaste for men to seek out or prefer women of youth? Why is it even worse that women seek out men that provide? Indeed, perhaps inherent to American, individualist cultural norms we actually are indoctrinated to vilify and despise those that cannot provide for themselves.

This is largely a hypothesis as to why women as gold diggers are despised more so than the male that prefers his young mate. He ideally has provision for both he and the mate he attracts. Should the woman have a scarcity of her own individual providings, her motivation and morality is suspect. Indeed this cultural condition wouldn't have as much stigma to it if the playing field for economic provision were more level. “As of 2010, men continue to out earn women in virtually every occupation for which data is available.” (National Committee on Pay Equity, 2010 p. 2)

References

Buss, D. M. (1989). Sex differences in human mate preferences; Evolutionary hypotheses tested in 37 cultures. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 12, 1-14.

National Committee on Pay Equity. (2010) Document retrieved 5/17/2010 at:http://www.pay- equity.org/

Rajecki, D. W., Bledsoe, S. B., & Rasmussen, J. L., (1991) Successful personal ads: Gender differences and similarities in offers, stipulations, and outcomes. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 12, 457-469.

Gestalt of it all

 Gestalt psychology could actually be better understood if one considers it an unspoken language. The mind wants to organize stimulus to fit into a concept or a something-or-other that is a commonly known “whole”. (Goodwin, 2008) Due to the fact that our eyesight is quite adept at taking in several images all at once, it is no surprise that we wish to input data in a holistic-manner. It also helps that we learn through relationships, interaction, and meaningfulness relative to ourselves. The interrelatedness forces us to invent language with others, so that we can share a stimulus, it's recognition, it's utility with others. Once we find the need to speak, that's where Gestalt leaves off and linguistics set in.

An example of early Gestalt cognition is with a mother that is showing her infant pictures in a picture book in attempts to educate on language. How does the Mom show the child not to just look at the parts, lines, colors of what the infant sees in the picture but to take in the whole picture? Would Gestalt early-childhood experts say that at a developmental age, this is innate or learned (Bell, 1991)? It takes time and an understanding of mind development appropriateness for the lessons to be fruitful. Then as the picture comes into focus, only then can the auditory task of learning sound associated with the picture forms a wrinkle in the grey matter of the infant's brain. Indeed, the baby has to be able to distinguish form, to understand the object beyond it being a flat page in a book, and to have it fit into a schema of whatever the picture comes to represent as a whole. It also must not be too abstract, or foreign of an idea for an infant to grasp.

What else may be examples of Gestalt that we take for granted? In particular, this student thinks of outter-space as a Gestalt-appropriate example. So do authors Woldt and Toman, 2005, Gestalt therapists considering space and aeronautics. We seek to understand the holistic-approach of what outter-space is by the planets, the stars, the solar system. We always want to categorize things into a neat little box for our minds labeled “NASA”. We have tools of understanding light as a property to distinguish how far Earth is from an asteroid belt but still are in awe of what the big picture universe really is all about. We are equal parts curious and frustrated. When we focus in too intently, we lose the greater meaning of the Universe, although we do continue to examine details like Earth, in the hopes that data yielded from Earth may reflect data indicative to understanding the larger whole, the universe. We must always be vigilant not to lose the forest from the trees and Gestalt approaches affirm that we are naturally wired to see more than just the sum parts, but a dynamically integrated outterspace. How we perceive outter space through Gestalt principles may be our greatest asset, or perhaps our greatest limitation in framing how we approach scientific unknowns.

A final example of Gestalt may be existential inquiry. We often holistically look at the meaning of life to inform on a mere moment of sadness or misery. We understand that there is much good and bad in life. We tell ourselves that in order to recognize good, we must know evil. We cognitively think in dualities first before we think of more complex interrelated theory about how everything in life is no longer black and white but shades of grey. We evolve out of dualism into Gestalt, that holistically everything that is is there is wholly, cleverly placed by Divine design. Gestalt in this capacity, is a testimony of faith. These ideas became the framework of not only Philosophers like Sartre and Heiddegger but laid the foundation for existential therapy. The therapy addresses being a lone if not interrelated, in a dualistic sense. As one matures, they may realize that spiritually they are integrated. (Deurzen, 2002). Gestalt in a manner of faith may be a goal but not the innate state of spiritual well-being.

We may be perpetually tripped-up if our innate ability to see things holistically makes us incapable of viewing things in a different way. Let's suggest that Gestalt may be a hindrance. Perhaps we would know more about language, existentialism, and space if we were able to focus on details first. Let's say, we approached all scholarly inquiry through focus on the details first rather than the whole. What would that entail and would that framing be more advantageous? Gestalt reached it's demise when it failed to describe things scientifically. Description will only legitimize ideas so far.

References

Bell, N. (1991) Gestalt imagery:a critical factor in language acquisition. The Orton Dyslexia Society. San Luis Obispo, CA.

Deurzen, E. (2002). Existential counseling and psychotherapy in practice. London. Sage Publications.

Goodwin, C.J. (2008). A history of modern psychology. Introducing psychology's history. NJ, John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Woldt, A. & Tolman,S. (2005) Gestalt therapy : history, theory, and practice. London. Sage Publications.

Client-centered therapy

Carl Rogers placed the client at center stage in humanistic therapy. Accompanying the client is the approach that with highly-developed listening, empathy, and interpersonal skills, this type of client-centered therapy can be just as helpful to clients as any other therapies (Rogers, 1980). And for the first time, feelings matter as they are-symbolic expressions of meaning for the value of self (Whelton, 2007).

Largely created in the 1950s, theorists most conducive to this approach include the groundwork of Abraham Maslow and the true father of humanistic therapy- Rogers. Central to client centered therapy approaches are certain virtues. They include that an emphasis will remain on the individual as capable through self-awareness and consciousness of their experiences, that a therapist will provide unconditional, positive regaard, and that the focus will be on the human potential and not limitations through positivity. The enormously impactful progress this type of approach has with clients far outweighs anything negative opponents offer in the dialogue of best practice approaches.

While Maslow placed motivation and the dynamic body of work surrounding motivation as his offering to the field, Rogers holds up each individual in all their untapped potential as the core of humanistic therapy. Roger's expounded on the idea that clients and everyone at large struggles with the

several versions one holds of the “self”. Rogers largely came into his own during his teaching tenure at several universities. Alongside teaching, his prolific writings act as his own therapy as he came to reflect on what practices and what part of his personality came to reveal the elements of therapy that resonates with this writer.

In therapy approaches, this writer would wish to talk with clients most about their motivations and how many “selves” they have including how far they are from their ideal self. We would work together in multiple arenas trying to motivate and progress towards their best self. This can encompass a lot of areas to work on or could be as simple as helping someone to live their authentic life. Positive messages about themselves, their abilities, and how they seek joy while becoming their authentic self would be my mission with all patients. Tests from positive psychology would be utilized in learning more about their strengths, personality, and happiness level.

Certain limitations to this therapy exists for those that are deeply saddened, angry, or addicted. Client-centered therapy can address these issues but this writer regrets that other therapies may need to take more formal actions first in getting to a better homeostasis before working on the higher pyramid aspects of the hierarchy of human needs implicit to humanistic therapies. An addict must be sober and in a healthy body before higher order needs can be met as their addiction robs them of truly being in their god-provided authentic body and mind.

Those with extremes in moods and personalities must know what they are to overcome and have strategies in place with baser issues before addressing higher order needs. This writer can though, see client-centered practices relevant to all therapies as it's never wrong to work at anytime on being the best self, reconciling mutliple selves, and getting to know oneself best in any capacity. Though this therapy appears to be much more popular in Europe (Butcher et al, 2007), it is making a case for usage again at positive psychology continues to catch on in consciousness to the promise of all the good things that can happen through living a joyful authentic life.

References

Butcher, J. N., Mineka, S. & Hooley, J. L. (2010). Abnormal Psychology (14^th ed.). Boston, MA:

Rogers, C.R. (1980). A way of being. Boston, MA. Houghton Mifflin

Helminiak, D. (2009). Common Humanity and Global Community: Lonerganian Specification of Maslowian Promise. Paper submitted for the 117^th APA Annual Convention. American Psychological Association.Washington, DC.

Maslow, A., (1987). Adapted from Personality and Motivation. Pearson Education

Boston, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing

Whelton, W. (2007). The Enduring Legacy of Carl Rogers: Clinical Philosophy and Clinical Science. PsycCRITIQUES, 52(12), doi:10.1037/a0007177.

Comorbidity in Psych

Definitions:

Comorbity-diseases or conditions that coexist with a primary disease but they also stand on their own as specific diseases (Debra Ranzella, R.N., 2008).

Co-occuring-formerly known as dual diagnosis or dual disorder, co-occurring disorders describe the presence of two or more disorders at the same time. For example, a person may suffer substance abuse as well as bipolar disorder. (Psychology Today, 2010).

Dual diagnosis-often used interchangeably with the terms co-morbidity, co-occurring illnesses, concurrent disorders, comorbid disorders, co-occurring disorder, dual disorder, and, double trouble. Professional literature has used a confusing array of terms and acronyms to describe co-occurring disorders or a dual diagnosis (Dual Recovery Anonymous, 2010).

Understanding that every single person on this earth has a different experience takes a lot of accounting into consideration in the lens of psychology.To better understand psychology, it may be helpful to think first in medical terms and situations. When we think of comorbidity in a medical framing we can attribute a lot of cause and effect and multiple diseases within a person's lifestyle habits. For instance a person with heart disease will have had a pattern with artereoscleurosis, with what their diet is, with weight factors, with what exercise they can and cannot do, and with what genes where their genetic lottery. We see that there is a proliferation of consequence within diagnosis and very educated, logical, and rational pathways of thinking will expand on a person's condition (Cloninger, 2002). Within the primary disgnosis of heart disease we see various comorbidity not only in disease but in overall conditions that contribute greatly to the primary disease. All add up to the big picture. One cannot be looked out without contributing or overlapping into the other. Thus, the dual diagnosis issue is at hand not just in medical orientations but relevant in psychology as well.

In psychology recently it was stated that virtually 60% of personality disorders have something co-morbid lurking in the diagnosis and those critical of these figures claim that there's inprocise diagnosing occuring with having such a high rate of co-morbidity (Kessler et al., 1994). This author argues that when we think in a medical orientation about accounting for overall, holistic well-being in a person's behavior and thinking, it's actually more likely that we would diagnose more as we see that “a” causes “b” and may cause “c” but may also vary from person to person. Not everything is a straight line. Rather human nature is unique and each person's chemistry may present an interesting sub-set of symptoms when thinking about an over-arching disorder or many disorders.Thus the web is woven, quite complexly in terms of comorbidity.

In treating clients, there's a need to identify the illness or substance abuse that is more threatening to the safety and security of the client. This is where an immediate intervention starts. An extreme psychotic episode can be just as threatening as addiction in an extreme situation. It's important to take stock of habits of extremes in both substance abuse and psychosis in initial assessments.

While proper diagnosis is needed, it appears that accuracy in dual-diagnosis is elusive in the field. This author wishes to circle back to the idea of improcise language can lead to misdiagnosis. Culturally there is an issue that everyone wants quickly diagnosed and treated. Insurance companies want clients in and out like the McDonalds drive-through line.

Being able to be given time to critically synthesize the DSM-IV-TR classifications and it's rules of diagnosis within a disease but also within the nuance of the individual with unique symptoms is no easy task. Dual diagnosis doesn't have to be the villian it's portrayed to be. For instance, with generalized anxiety disorder a client may not only have GAD but may medically complain of muscle tension (Levyberg, 2009). This medical framing speaks to the parallels of psychology in that we are what we think and do. If we think anxiously, then of course our body is anxious as manifested in muscle tension. If one drinks alcohol they depress themselves not only with their drink but with their thoughts as the alcohol paints the picture in their mind's eye. Thus we have dual diagnosis alcoholism and depression situated within bad coping skills.

References:

Cloninger, C. R. (2002). Implications of comorbidity for the classification of mental disorders: the need for a psychobiology of coherence. In Psychiatric Diagnosis and Classification Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

Kessler, R. C., McGonagle, K. A., Zhao, S.,(1994) .Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DSM- III-R psychiatric disorders in the United States: results from the National Comorbidity Survey.Archives of General Psychiatry

Levyberg, A., Sandell, R., & Sandahl, C. (2009). Affect-focused body psychotherapy in patients with generalized anxiety disorder: Evaluation of an integrative method. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration

Definitions References:

Dual-Diagnosis Recovery (2010). retrieved 12/16/2010 at

http://www.draonline.org/

Manzella, D. (2008). retrieved 12/16/2010 at :http://diabetes.about.com/od/glossaryofterms/g/comorbid.htm

Psychology Today. (2008). retrieved 12/16.2010 at http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/co- occurring-disorders