Psychological diseases are mainly two types –Neurosis and Psychosis. Now, the most frequently used word is psychosis. But many of us do no t know the actual meaning of it.There are number of misconceptions and false beliefs attached to it The main symptom of psychosis is not able to recognize the facts and the individual is often of the opinion that his illusions only are the real things. That is why, he behaves peculiarly and abnormally. But he thinks that his behavior with others is quite normal and he usually refuses to go for treatment. The other signs and symptoms of psychosis are: 1. He develops such abnormal thoughts like that his wife is having illegal sexual contacts with others. 2. Enemies are searching for him and also his family members. 3. He often thinks that he is having extraordinary powers or earning lots of amounts of money. 4. Others are having no business, except, always taking about him, including news papers and TV channels also. 5. The point of time of disappearing of this world is fast approaching. 6. He is of the strong opinion that he is fit for nothing, as he committed blunders. 7. He feels that he is suffering from number of diseases. 8. He thinks that many women are after him (loving him). 9. He strongly believes that somebody removing his original thoughts from his brain by various methods and forcing other thoughts into his brain. That is why others know his thoughts without revealed by him. 10. Others are controlling him, with the help of computers and other modern instruments. 11. They are under the wrong impression somebody are standing near by them and talking to them, (actually nobody is there). Even if we say, that nobody is there, they won’t accept the facts. 12. Sometimes, they talk to themselves and also do laughing and weeping, without any apparent cause. 13. They prefer to live in their own world. Behavior pattern: Sometimes, they run away from the homes and commit suicides. Often quarrel with others and also harm others. Causes and the mechanism behind Psychosis: 1. Difference in the levels of –dopamine and serotonin, (the chemical products that are secreted in the brain), due to genetic, tensions, and bodily diseases also affect their secretary mechanism. 2. Injuries to the head 3. Taking alcohol and other narcotic drugs 4. Drugs ,using for fits ( in epilepsy) 5. Occurrence of excessive bleeding after delivery, in females. 6. Diseases affecting the brain. 7. Death of the nearest and dearest in the families and also in relatives. 8. Financial problems, quarrels in the families, failures in the competitive exams, etc. 9. Persons having weak bodies are more prone to psychosis. Management of Psychosis: 1. Never tie them with chains (often done by the family members) when the patients behave rudely, instead tie them with clothes, if necessary. 2. Better approach the psychiatrist for counseling and for treatment. 3. There are best drugs available and the symptoms gradually disappear within 4-6 weeks. Even after curing of the disease, the treatment and counseling has to be continued further f0r 6-9 months, as there are chances of recurrence. If the disease doesn’t come under control, the treatment has to be continued for 2-5years, at least. The most important thing here is the family members should have more patience and show kindness towards to the patient and deal with the patient with motherly love. … [Read more...]
Depression is more in older men
Older men aged over 65 are more depressed than normal men. Low levels of male sex hormone, Testosterone is responsible for depression in older men. Research findings were published in the “Archives of General Psychiatry”. Testosterone is a sex hormone that is responsible sexual drive in men. Australian researchers of University of Western Australia conducted survey on 3,987 men aged 71 to 89 to find the causes of depression in older men. Old men who are under depression have low levels of male sex hormone, Testosterone. They have 3 times lesser levels of testosterone than healthier older men. Depression affects more than 6 million Americans aged above 65. Women are under more depression until the age of 65 while men are depressed after the age of 65. Normal testosterone levels in men: 300 to 1,000 nanograms per decilitre of blood. 25% of men over 60 generally tend to have low levels of testosterone (<300 ng). Depression and death is high in these men than those with normal levels of testosterone. Obesity, smoking and lack of physical exercise are some causes for low testosterone levels in men. According to another study, low levels of testosterone raise death risk by 33%. Testosterone replacement therapy has shown beneficial effects on men with Alzheimer’s disease. But scientists failed to explain the exact relation between Testosterone levels and depression in older men. … [Read more...]
Stress and Health – diseases and prevention
The state of the Mind can be judged by the emotions of the individual. Increase in life style related diseases are mainly due to stress and strain in daily life. Signs and Symptoms of Stress and Anxiety: 1. Rapid heart beats 2. Faster breathing 3. Dryness of the throat and mouth 4. Increased Muscle tension 5. Perspiration 6. Trembling of the extremities (legs and hands) 7. A sinking feeling in the stomach 8. Goose pimples, etc; This is a sole characteristic of the emotional stress and in which body must prepare for action: Fight or Flight (Some of the above responses may also occur during joyful excitement or sexual arousal). The above sort of prolonged heightened emotional feeling (stress) can impair individual mental capacity and health also. 10 diseases due to Stress: Stress plays a major or minor role as a causative factor in the following 10 diseases. 1. Asthma 2. ACNE 3. Allergies 4. Migraine (headache), 5. High blood pressure, 6. Ulcers 7. Heart diseases 8. Obesity (due to over eating) 9. Pre-menstrual tension in females 10. Rheumatoid arthritis Factors which help to control the severity of the stress are: 1. Imagination power: If one is mentally prepared for an event which is going to occur, one is less affected by the stress. 2. Time factor: If we have financial problems and these may overcome in a short period of time, certainly one is less affected by present hardship. 3. Cognitive evolution: Two persons receive the same event in two ways, for example, Child birth. 4. Self confidence: Persons having more self-confidence face the challenges that occur in day to day life boldly. 5. Believe in God: Have faith in GOD (the Almighty), as faith moves mountains, as one gets mental peace, sincerely believing in GOD. … [Read more...]
Sleeplessness: Causes, effects and Management
Usually Human body needs 6-8 hours of sound sleep per day. It is good for routine life. Otherwise it is very difficult to work in the office the next day and the person feels uneasiness, discomfort, changes in moods, etc. Healthy sleepers usually fall into deep sleep in about 20 minutes. It is better to go to bed early and wakes up early. Somebody goes to bed at 10pm in the night and wakes up at 8 am in the morning the next day. One thinks that he was in the bed (in sleep) for 10 hours. But, we have to take into consideration, the actual time, that is, for how many hours he could sleep well, (without any disturbance) the night before. That is the main problem here. Simply in the bed for any number of hours is of no use. One must have sound sleep for better day life. Causes for sleeplessness: 1. Stress and strain 2. Fear complex 3. Anxiety Effects of sleeplessness: It brings changes in the blood circulation, thereby changes in the bodily movements and also in the moods of the person, like lack of concentration in the work, unnecessary angry and irregular behavior with friends and relatives. Methods to get sound sleep: 1. Make certain changes in your evening time routine activities. For example, -First of all read something which you are more interested. -Then wear night-dress, (pyzamas, etc), which gives some sleep –signals to your mind and prepare it for sleep. 2. Never look at the watch frequently to know the time, which brings tension and sleeplessness. 3. If you don’t get sleep, does some minor manual labor like, ironing of the clothes or keeping the articles in the house orderly, until you feel tiredness. 4. Imagine yourself hat you are in the beach or in any park, which lessens the tension and brings in sleepy-mood. 5. Never take coffee, tea, nicotine or alcohol, etc. Remember, alcohol helps in producing sleep but only for short duration of time, but not for longer period. 6. Don’t take food two hours before going to the bed. 7. Take banana fruits and milk products, which contain L-Tryptophan which help producing regularity in sleep. 8. Better to have the bed- room, just away from the other rooms. 9. Keep the bed -room in darkness (Lighting keeps the eyes in unrest position). 10. Don’t keep the computer , T.V, etc. in the bed-room. 11. The ideal temperature in the bed room is around 18 degrees centigrade, which helps the body to get sound sleep. … [Read more...]
Caffeine effects on Health
Caffeine is present in Coffee, Cocoa and Tea. Mechanism of action: Caffeine gives stimulation to the brain and causes more secretion of adrenaline and nor adrenaline which in turn stimulates nervous system. Effects of Caffeine on Health: When taken in small quantities: 1. It stimulates heart muscles. 2. It increases blood circulation. 3. It temporarily increases blood pressure. 4. It increases secretions in the stomach. When Caffeine is taken in large quantities: 1. It increases heart rate. 2. It decreases sleeping tendency, headache and displeasure. 3. Causes diarrhea and frequent urination. Caffeine Addiction: Taking Caffeine in moderate amounts (2-3 cups of coffee) cause no ill effects on the body. Due to increased stressful work hours, caffeine addiction is gradually rising. If a habituated person stops taking caffeine, with drawl symptoms develop in the body. With drawl symptoms of the Caffeine: 1. Fatigue, anger and despair. 2. Depression and changing of moods. 3. Sleeplessness and loss of tolerance power. These signs and symptoms begin to appear after 12-24 hours after stopping the caffeine intake. In order to prevent with drawl symptoms, one had to reduce caffeine intake gradually. Please comment on the article. … [Read more...]
Causes of Insomnia
Sleep is with us since our birth and fills us with new enthusiasm from time to time. No more better luck than sound sleep is there to any human being. If any one is without sufficient sleep on a particular day, he will the next day without normal vigor and lack of interest in daily chores. Modern speedy life left us with sleeplessness and this phenomenon is present all over the world. Sleep is a boon given by nature to the mankind. Our body cannot utilize and absorb even the highly nutritious diet if there is lack of sufficient sleep to the body requirement. Daily requirement of sleep: 1. Infants of below one year: They sleep for about 16 -20 hours in a day. 2. Children around seven years old: they require about ten hours sleep per day. 3. Teenagers: require 7-8 hours sleep daily. 4. Adolescents: need 8 hours sleep in a day. 5. Aged people: need 6 hours or less time of sleep. The changes that are taking place in our body during the sleep: 1. The voluntary muscles (which are under our control) movements are lessened, 2. External stimuli do not show much effect on our body, 3. Gradually we go into semi or unconscious state, 4. Blood circulation becomes slow and thereby heart’s activity slightly decreased and takes more rest, 5. Body builds new cells, in place of already damaged tissue and utilizes the proteins for further strengthening of the body functions, 6. Sight and hearing functions decreased temporarily, 7. There is more production of certain hormones in the brain and brain functioning power is notably improved. 8. Resistance power of the body, to withstand against diseases is increased. 9. The power of functioning capacity of the lungs is greatly increased, during the sound sleep. 10. The ‘’centre for remembrance activity’’ is highly stimulated, and a man’s remembrance power is enhanced appreciably. 11. Chances of developing high blood pressure and occurring of diabetes are also decreased to a great extent, if a person has sufficient sleep daily. Causes of sleeplessness in women: 1. Divorcee is the main cause (about in 60-70 % of cases). 2. Family problems 3. Menopause stage—due to hormones effect 4. Pregnancy also contributes to lack of sleep. Note: If anybody does not have sufficient sleep for2-3 days, one need not worry and no need of approaching a physician, because rectifies itself. If he need not get sufficient sleep for number of days (if it becomes a chronic problem) then he has to consult a physician. Preventive measures: Avoid over thinking and have peace of mind. Problems are always there, but you should not be a part of the problem. Develop any good hobby which you like most and involve in it sincerely. Then you get sound sleep and have nice dreams. … [Read more...]
Schizophrenia patients are at heart attack risk
People with schizophrenia are at double risk of heart attack than normal people. According to Harvard Mental Health Centre November newsletter, Heart diseases cause double the number of deaths in Schizophrenics. Schizophrenia symptoms: 1. Disorganised thinking. 2. Auditory hallucinations. 3. Delusions. 4. Patient may remain mute and exhibit purposeless agitation in serious cases. Why Schizophrenic patients are at high risk? These patients generally go to psychiatrist for their illnesses. Psychiatrists concentrate mainly on mental health by overlooking physical health. These patients generally do not receive good preventive care and support from family and community. There are no other specific medical reasons for their increased risk. Only concern is they irregularly take prescribed drugs. 50% of patients do not follow prescribed schedule making themselves prone to diseases. Family members should provide good diet and regular physical health checkups to prevent deaths from heart diseases in these patients. Click here to subscribe for “The Harvard Mental Health Newsletter”. … [Read more...]
FDA: Provogil may cause serious rash and psychiatry symptoms
Cephalon’s Provigil reported to cause life-threatening Skin rash and Psychiatric symptoms. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added this new warning to this sleep drug. Provigil is used for Obstructive sleep apnea, shift-work sleep disorder and Narcolepsy. Provigil is prescribed to improve wakefulness in those patients. FDA advised doctors not to prescribe this drug to patients with a history of depression or mania as Provigil causes hallucinations or suicidal thoughts in them. FDA approved Provigil in 1998 for use in adult patients. Side effects of Provigil: Most of these side-effects occur within 5 weeks of Provigil therapy. Psychological symptoms will stop within 3 days of stopping the drug. 1. Serious skin rashes like Stevens - Johnson syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis and Eosinophilia. 2. Psychiatric symptoms like anxiety, mania, hallucinations and suicidal tendency. 3. Angiodema. 4. Multi-organ hypersensitivity reactions. Patients should immediately stop the drug if they find any of the above symptoms and consult doctor. Provigil is not approved for use in Pediatric patients. This is another major blow for Cephalon after Fentora (Cancer drug) issue. Source: FDA (Food and Drug Administration). … [Read more...]
Withdrawal symptoms of Addicts
The drugs which are usually prone to addiction are: 1. Pethidine 2. Calmpose 3. Heroin 4. Morphine 5. Charas 6. Spirit 7. Alcohol etc. When the persons were in the habit of taking drugs, if they do not take them, the following signs and Symptoms appear. These are called Withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms of Addicts: 1. Loss of patience 2. No mental peace 3. Angry mood 4. Uneasiness 5. Shivering the body 6. Nausea and vomiting sensation 7. Loss of appetite 8. More anxiety 9. Irregular heart beats 10. Loss of Interest on any work 11. No concentration 12. Weakness 13. Despair 14. Sweating all over the body 15. Loss of sleeplessness (Insomnia) 16. Rising of body temperature 17. Always in the trails of how to get drugs. The above withdrawal symptoms remain in the body from few months. If a person tries to get rid of that bad habit of taking narcotic drugs, it is well and good other wise he becomes helpless and is not in a position to control himself and he will continue that bad drug habit. It indicates he is not having sufficient will power. How to get rid of these bad habits? First of all he should have that desire and sufficient will power and is willing to take treatment in De-Addiction centers under the supervision of a psychiatrist for a few weeks and also counseling. If he continues to taking these drugs like Heroin, Pethidine he may loose consciousness and there is fall in blood pressure, breathing troubles, body becomes cool and goes into coma and some times death occurs. Due to continuous taking of narcotic injections –the person gets infections are over the body. Septicemia is another side effect. … [Read more...]
Effect of Alcohol on brain and behavior
Alcoholism has become such a fashion with all kinds of people that those who are away from drinking habit are dubbed as uncultured and odd personalities, in the society. 1. On the brain: Alcohol has got two separate effects on human beings: 1. The pharmacological and psychological, which influences behavior 2. The biochemical and nutritional effects on the body. 1. On behavior: Small doses of alcohol produce euphoria (a lifted feeling) on a person, by removing some of his inhibitions. The individual sees the world through rose glasses. Most people experience greater exhilaration and feeling of self- confidence. Alcohol generally causes a reduction in anxiety, tension, irritability and mental strain. Because of these effects, it is considered a stimulant by some, but strictly speaking it causes a lack of inhibition and the physical and mental performances of normal individuals are slightly impaired. In Shakespeare’s words, it provokes the desire but takes away the performance (especially in the sexual activity). As the concentration of alcohol in the blood increases, the behavior pattern of the individual also changes from normal to abnormal condition. First of all, he is dashing and debonair; afterwards he becomes dangerous, devilish, dizzy, disturbing, disguising and disheveled and finally he becomes, delirious and disoriented. There are temporary black outs or memory loss, headache, anxiety, insomnia etc. Also, recurrent arguments or fights with family members or friends, is also there. People do not trust an alcoholic and he does not command respect in the society. The family life becomes miserable. Over consumption of alcohol also contributes to many of society’s problems, such as antisocial behavior crime and divorce etc. 2. Effects on the body, especially on the heart: With continued alcohol abuse one may develop alcoholic heart disease, where the heart is enlarged and it functions poorly and gradually fails. They may also have life-threatening cardiac rhythm abnormalities. Anemia (less amount of blood) and a low blood platelet count are common amongst alcohol abusers. Liver cirrhosis, diabetes and impotency are also present. There is loss of productivity due to these ill health problems. So consumption of alcohol takes us away from our values and the right way of living and thinking. An alcoholic cannot walk straightly and his movement pattern resembles to the serpent’s which is like in zigzag manner. Every drop of liquor kills. In fact a person who a drink is running away from self by retreating into a momentary make believe world. By the time he is able to re-establish contact with the real world, it has left him far behind in the race of success in life. Staying away from alcohol ensures a truly meaningful and fulfilling life. … [Read more...]
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