Amnesia

Amnesia is a deficit in memory caused by brain damage, disease, or psychological trauma. Essentially, amnesia is the loss of memory. The memory can be either wholly lost or partially lost due to the extent of damage that was caused. There are two main types of amnesia: retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia. Retrograde amnesia is the inability to retrieve information that was acquired before a particular date, usually the date of an accident or operation. Anterograde amnesia is the inability to transfer new information from the short-term store into the long-term store. People with this type of amnesia cannot remember things for long periods of time. Amnesia, in my opinion, is something that can be very depressing, if you have a loved one that got into an accident and the accident caused brain damage leading to amnesia, they could possibly forget all the memories you guys had together or they could possibly forget who you are. I don’t even know how I would react if one of my loved ones ever had amnesia and forgot who I was, it’s something that I hope never happens. A couple years ago a movie that had been created and it had to do with the subject of amnesia, was a movie created called the vow, that was based on a true story where the girl and her husband got into a car accident and she woke up and couldn’t remember him at all. Our ability to recollect events and experiences is a very complex brain process. In fact, experts say we are only now starting to scratch at the surface in understanding exactly what happens when we commit something to memory, or when we try to retrieve data that was stored by our brain. Being a little forgetful is completely different to having amnesia. Amnesia refers to a large-scale loss of memories that should not have been forgotten. These may include important milestones in life, memorable events, key people in our lives, and vital facts we have been told or taught.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9673.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesia

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder causes serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior. More than just a fleeting good or bad mood, the cycles of bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months. And unlike ordinary mood swings, the mood changes of bipolar disorder are so intense that they interfere with your ability to function. In my opinion, the causes of bipolar disorder aren’t completely understood by many people, bipolar disorder can look very different in different people. The symptoms vary widely in their pattern, severity, and frequency, i feel that the symptoms vary depending on the person. Some people are more prone to either mania or depression, while others alternate equally between the two types of episodes. Some have frequent mood disruptions, while others experience only a few over a lifetime. The first manic or depressive episodes of bipolar disorder usually occur in the teenage years or early adulthood. The symptoms can be subtle and confusing. To me, we all have some sort of the bipolar disorder but unlike people who are actually diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, our moods change for reasons, those diagnosed with a type of bipolar disorder don’t have reasons their moods just change. Bipolar disorder also affects your energy level, judgment, memory, concentration, appetite, sleep patterns, sex drive, and self-esteem. Additionally, bipolar disorder has been linked to anxiety, substance abuse, and health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, migraines, and high blood pressure.

 

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-disorder-signs-and-symptoms.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed disorder in children and teens. Its symptoms include hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. Children with ADHD often fail to give close attention to details, have difficulty concentrating and they make careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities. In my opinion the children who do have ADHD should have extra care in school, they should most likely have someone with them to help them out throughout all the troubles they have in their work. As with all mental disorders, the exact cause of attention deficit disorder (ADHD) is unknown, so parents should not blame themselves for this problem. It is likely that many factors play a role in each case of ADHD, very little of which has to do with specific parenting or child rearing skills. Parents will most likely ask themselves “What did I do to cause this?” or “How could I have prevented it?”, but most of the evidence points to genetic factors, environmental facts or brain damage. In my opinion, instead on wondering what they think they did wrong the parents should focus on how best to help their child with ADHD. I believe that all children, teens or adults that do have ADHD should receive as much help as possible, sometimes it could probably be very frustrating for them because they can’t understand the work because they weren’t able to concentrate and I believe that they should have someone there to help them out, for example like if they get distracted they can bring their focus back to their work that they were doing before they got distracted. 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/index.shtml

Cocaine Dependence

What is cocaine?

Cocaine is a powerfully addictive drug. Once having tried cocaine, users cannot predict or control the extent they will continue to use the drug. The drug creates a strong sense of exhilaration. Users generally feel invincible, carefree, alert, and euphoric and have a lot of energy. The short-term and long-term effects of cocaine are equally dangerous. This is usually followed by agitation, depression, anxiety, paranoia and decreased appetite. The effects of cocaine generally last about two days. A form of cocaine with the street name crack is processed into a rock crystal and then smoked, most often using a pipe. Given the lower purity level and wider potential for introduction of other dangerous chemicals, long-term crack cocaine users may experience even more dramatic symptoms.

Cocaine Dependence

Cocaine dependence (or addiction) is a psychological desire to use cocaine regularly. Cocaine overdose may result in cardiovascular and brain damage such as constricting blood vessels in the brain, causing strokes and constricting arteries in the heart, causing heart attacks specifically in the central nervous system. In my opinion, nobody should depend on cocaine. Cocaine should not be used to solve any sort of problems. Yes cocaine is an addicting drug but this is one of the many mental disorders that you are able to control. If you don’t take cocaine to start with then you’re in the clear with this disorder. If you start on cocaine and keep doing it you’ll get addicted and with that addiction comes the mental disorder of cocaine dependence... You’ll be so dependent on that drug that certain people would do anything to get the money for it. The use of cocaine can also result in a loss of appetite, extreme insomnia and sexual problems. Heart disease, heart attack, respiratory failure, strokes, seizures, and gastrointestinal problems are not uncommon among long-term users of cocaine. This mental disorder is treatable with therapy and you can stop it by not taking cocaine in the first place. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven to be an effective approach for preventing relapse. CBT is focused on helping cocaine addicted individuals abstain and remain abstinent from cocaine and other substances. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine_dependence
http://www.mentalhealth.com/home/dx/cocainedependence.h 
http://www.timberlineknolls.com/drug-addiction/cocaine/signs-effects

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Many of us have small habits that make us feel better, but we can also live without them. For example, we might think of something as ‘lucky’ or have a routine that feels comforting. But for people who experience obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), these behaviors are much more intense and disruptive and are fuelled by unwanted thoughts that don’t go away. Obsessions are ideas, thoughts, impulses, or images that keep coming back. They are not enjoyable; rather obsessions are unwanted and upsetting, causing severe anxiety or distress. OCD sufferers attach much greater meaning and threat to these thoughts than others. The obsessions won't just "go away." In order to cope with the obsessions, people with OCD engage in repeated behaviors or thoughts, known as compulsions, to make themselves feel safer. Compulsions are rituals that the person believes reduce the risk of the obsessions coming true, or at least reduce the anxiety they produce. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is not always easy to understand, but it’s a real illness that causes difficulties in a person’s life. If you have OCD, you probably recognize that your obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational but even so, you feel unable to resist them and break free. Like a needle getting stuck on an old record, obsessive-compulsive disorder causes the brain to get stuck on a particular thought or urge. For example, you may check the stove twenty times to make sure it’s really turned off, wash your hands until they’re scrubbed raw, or drive around for hours to make sure that the bump you heard while driving wasn’t a person you ran over. We all have a part of this disorder in my opinion; we all get unwanted thoughts from time to time and sometimes is happens more than once, people with OCD frequently perform tasks, or compulsions, to seek relief from obsession-related anxiety. 

Common OCd Types                                                                       
(Percent of OCD Cases by Symptom)

Checking   79.3%
Hoarding   62.3%
Ordering    57.0%

Morality  43.0%

Sexual/Religious   30.2%
Contamination/Washing       25.7%
Harming/Aggression     24.2%

Illness  14.3% 
Other   19.0%

http://www.anxietybc.com/resources/ocd.php

http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/#.VIh_UjGG9uc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/obssessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.htm

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating (Binge eating disorder is a compulsive overeating in which people consume huge amounts of food while feeling out of control and powerless to stop), followed by frantic efforts to avoid gaining weight. It affects women and men of all ages. When you’re struggling with bulimia, life is a constant battle between the desires to lose weight or stay thin and the overwhelming compulsion to binge eat. You don’t want to binge you know you’ll feel guilty and ashamed afterwards but time and again you give in. During an average binge, you may consume from 3,000 to 5,000 calories in one short hour. There are plenty of symptoms and signs of bulimia, I will name the most common ones. First, there is the lack of control over eating; Inability to stop eating. Eating until the point of physical discomfort and pain. In my opinion alot of people feel that way, even I feel that way sometimes, when food is in front of me (even if I'm not hungry) I just eat and can't really control it, it is a pretty hard thing to try and control. Second there is, secrecy surrounding eating; Going to the kitchen after everyone else has gone to bed. Going out alone on unexpected food runs. Wanting to eat in privacy. Third, there is eating unusually large amounts of food with no obvious change in weight. Forth, there is disappearance of food, numerous empty wrappers or food containers in the garbage, or hidden stashes of junk food. Last, there is alternating between overeating and fasting; rarely eats normal meals. It’s all-or-nothing when it comes to food. In my opinion some of the symptoms are something very hard to control and most of the time a lot of people can’t their eating habits. A lot of people try taking the “easy way out” by going to the bathroom after they eat and stick something down their throat to make themselves throw up. I think that can be very dangerous in a lot of cases; there is a possibility of tearing of your esophagus, leading to possible internal bleeding. The most dangerous side effect is dehydration.

  

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purging_disorder

Panic Attacks

A panic attack is a sudden feeling of overwhelming anxiety and fear. Your heart pounds and you can’t breathe. You may even feel like you’re dying or going crazy. In many cases, panic attacks come out of nowhere, without any warning. Often, there is no clear reason for the attack. They may even occur when you’re relaxed or asleep. A panic attack may be a one-time occurrence, but many people experience repeat episodes. Recurrent panic attacks are often triggered by a specific situation, such as crossing a bridge or speaking in public especially if that situation has caused a panic attack before. Usually, the panic-inducing situation is one in which you feel endangered and unable to escape. You may experience one or more panic attacks, yet be otherwise perfectly happy and healthy. Many signs of panic attacks include a shortness of breath or hyperventilation, heart palpitations or a racing heart, chest pain or discomfort, trembling or shaking, choking feeling, sweating, nausea or upset stomach, feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint, hot or cold flashes. A common reason for panic attacks for teenagers is tests; when they do tests in school some do receive panic attacks. In my opinion, panic attacks should be taken very seriously because they can restrain certain people from doing well in school or restrain them from doing something they love.




http://www.medicinenet.com/panic_disorder/article.htm