User:Hyalite/Mental Illness Notes

I needed a place to take a few notes, and I thought maybe by making it public I could help a few people?

If this is not allowed or if I'm breaking rules in any way, please tell me so I can request an admin to delete the page ^^  Also, if you have any suggestions or spot any discrepancies in factual information, please tell me as well.

All of this information is valid for only humans, not any other animal (unless labeled otherwise). However, I believe that non-human characters can have these traits if they are written properly, not as offensive stereotypes.

Guide -
(Text in parenthesis are personal experiences I have had due to knowing someone with the given illness.)

Italicized text is factual information of mental illness in animals OR an idea I had about an animal character who expressed the human version of the given illness.

Childhood Schizophrenia -

 * Symptoms resemble that of those on the autistic spectrum
 * Language delays
 * Late or unusual walking/crawling
 * Strange eating behaviors
 * Abnormal motor behaviors - "stims"
 * Flapping
 * Rocking
 * (From personal experience, these stem from like, a large amount of stimulus.  Pain (from say, hair brushing) can cause this along with just general excitement, such as when your parents say they're taking you to an amusement park)
 * Does not necessarily go along with autism or schizophrenia, but most of the time they do
 * In teens...
 * May have trouble sleeping, insomnia
 * Irritability, depression are common
 * "Strange behavior"
 * Lack of motivation, poor academic performance
 * Although schizophrenia is genetic and people are born with it, people might not express symptoms until much later on in life
 * Around ages 16-30
 * Visual hallucinations are common

Hallucinations/Delusions -

 * Can involve any of the senses (hearing, sight, taste, touch, smell) - "Seeing or hearing things that don't exist"
 * Genuinely believe these are real, while a non-schizophrenic person would regard these as a trick-of-the-mind
 * "Voices", or auditory hallucinations, are the most common
 * Delusions are defined as " false beliefs that are not based in reality"
 * Ex.: One might think another person has fallen in love with them, when it is obviously not the case. This, however, is not a state of denial or anything of the sort, but a true genuine belief
 * Illogical thinking, irregular or abnormal speech patterns
 * Referred to as "thought disorders"

Movement Disorders -

 * Many appear to be agitated body movements
 * May repeat motions over and over
 * Similar to autism, OCD
 * Catatonia - a state in which a person does not move and does not respond to others
 * Common before treatment was available, now very rare
 * In the case of a cat, this would technically be common due to no treatment being available to them...but that's just my opinion since there are no well-documented cases of this illness in felines.

Common Misconceptions -

 * Schizophrenic people are not "insane" or "evil"
 * Nor are they "edgy," "killers," "murderers," etc.
 * I'm sure some schizophrenics have murdered someone before, but that's unrelated to their condition as not all people with it have done such horrific things.
 * Hallucinations are a lot less romantic/"cool" than most people think, and tend to end in more humiliating results in real life.
 * People tend to think that people with this illness are somehow less intelligent or unable to function in society
 * Although this is true for some cases, it is not true for all cases
 * John Nash was an American mathematician who won a Nobel Prize for his work with game theory.  He worked as a professor at MIT, a top private research university in the U.S.  He is a husband and father of three, and also a sufferer of schizophrenia.
 * In conclusion, these people are not "edgy evil psycho murderers," but real people who happen to have a debilitating mental illness.

Works Cited -

 * "Schizophrenia." NIMH RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.
 * "Childhood Schizophrenia." - Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2015.

Autism
(Due to the vastness of the autism spectrum, this will be an exceptionally brief and general summary.)

Autism In Children -

 * As stated before in the "Schizophrenia" section, symptoms of autism include language delays, unusual walking/crawling, and abnormal motor behaviors
 * Flapping and rocking are the most common of these motor behaviors
 * Both are used to relieve stress on the body, regardless if that stress is due to positive or negative influences
 * These are also know as "stims," and the verb form of the word is "stimming"
 * While stims such as flapping are harmless (but speaking from personal experience, as a kid I have hit a few friends in the face while doing so) some can be more self-injurious in nature - Ex.: hand-biting, head-banging, scratching, etc.
 * Since cat's can't flap since they don't have hands, maybe in a fictional world they could flick their tail rapidly or something?
 * Children with autism have problems communicating
 * They may have trouble understanding how others think and feel
 * May experience difficulties expressing themselves through words, gestures, and touch
 * Sensory overload
 * Children with autism may by troubles, irritated, or even be pained by stimulus that seems "normal" to others
 * Children may not enjoy hugging, for example, especially from non-family members
 * Attachments to objects is common
 * May experience signs of OCD
 * Dislike changes in routine
 * Repetitive behavior
 * Some develop seizures
 * Skill development
 * For many, delays in development are present
 * Skill development is typically not even
 * When tested using non-verbal methods, children with autism tend to test at average or above-average level
 * Many excel at art, music, and math
 * Symptoms of autism appear during the first three years of life
 * Most show signs from birth
 * Four times more common in boys than in girls
 * Rates of autism are increasing
 * No, this is not due to vaccinations becoming more popular
 * It is likely due to the increase in population combined with changes in diagnosis

Autism Spectrum Disorders - a List -

 * Autistic Disorder
 * ​Problems with social interactions
 * Problems with communication
 * General language difficulties
 * Asperger's Syndrome
 * Typically do not have problems with language
 * Similar social problems as those with autistic disorder
 * Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
 * Also known as "atypical autism"
 * For those who have some autistic tendencies but may not fit perfectly into other areas of the spectrum
 * Rett Syndrome
 * Most are girls
 * Develop autistic behaviors at the age of 1-4 - do not show signs from birth
 * Purposeful use of the hands is replaced almost completely by repetitive hand movements/stims
 * Severely cognitively impaired
 * Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
 * Develop normally for two years, then lose some or most of their communication/social skills
 * Extremely rare

Causes of Autism -

 * Autism is likely genetic
 * Tends to run in families
 * Pregnancy in the later stages of life increases risk of autism
 * But this also increases the risk of any illness or condition immensely
 * Exposure to certain chemicals while pregnant may have some links as well
 * Again, it is not caused by vaccines

Special Behaviors/Interests -

 * Many become emotionally attached to a certain interest
 * Examples of this could be a TV show, a video game, or a toy
 * Can also include subjects, such as math or art
 * Essentially, an obsession with something
 * Children with autism, especially those with Asperger's, tend to deeply enjoy talking about their special interests

Common Misconceptions -

 * Not all people with autism are unable to function in society
 * Many are considered "high functioning" - meaning they act like people without the disorder
 * Those who cannot function as well are labeled "low functioning"
 * Since everyone with ASD expresses it differently, there are people who do not directly fit into these two categories either
 * Autistic people are not "stupid"
 * As stated prior, many excel in the subjects they are taught, especially if they are tested in it non-verbally
 * Autism is not caused by vaccines
 * I wish people would stop saying that it is, because it is just flat out not true
 * Just because someone has autism, it does not mean they are inherently violent, unable to form social relationships, or lack empathy

Works Cited -

 * "POV." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 05 May 2015.
 * "Facts About ASD." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 Feb. 2015. Web. 05 May 2015.
 * "Autism Spectrum Disorders Symptoms, Types, Causes, Treatments." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 05 May 2015.

Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is defined as a brain disorder that causes unusual and drastic shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels.

Childhood Bipolar Disorder -

 * Bipolar children do nor have "normal" mood ups and downs
 * They are far more severe
 * Symptoms include extreme changes in mood and energy
 * Can lead to...
 * damaging relationships
 * poor academic performance
 * suicide, depression
 * Develop in late teens and early adult years, but can also occur in young children
 * Disorder runs in families

Mania -

 * Brain creates its own hormonal high
 * Also called a "manic episode"
 * A drastic "up" in mood
 * Symptoms -
 * Overly silly or joyful
 * Extremely short temper and irritability
 * Extreme amounts of energy
 * May not sleep enough while experiencing mania
 * Excessive amounts of talking
 * Racing thoughts
 * Partaking in risky behaviors
 * More sexual activity

Depression -

 * Opposite of mania, brain stops producing "happy" hormones
 * Drastic "down" in mood
 * Symptoms -
 * Extended period of sadness, depression
 * Loosing interests in favorite activities
 * Feelings of being worthless or guilty
 * Headaches, stomachaches, muscle pains
 * Oversleeping
 * Thoughts of suicide
 * Teens are more likely to commit suicide out of any other age group with bipolar disorder

Common Misconceptions -

 * Again, as I said with schizophrenia, people with bipolar disorder are not "crazy psycho killers."
 * Being a murderer and having a mental illness are two unrelated things, and only overlap in very few people with the disease
 * Bipolar disorder is different from regular teenage angst
 * However, when the two combine, it is a dangerous mixture
 * Explains the increase of suicide in bipolar teens
 * "Mania" is not all happy thoughts
 * Anger is very much a prevalent emotion during these episodes
 * Some yell at strangers in the streets
 * Partake in illegal activity - police may have to be involved
 * In extreme cases, can also lead to thought of "invincibility"
 * For example, a person may stand in front of an oncomming train thinking it will not harm them
 * Closely resembles a drug high, but for a very long time (weeks, or several months)

Symptoms/General Info

 * Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by:
 * An abnormally low body weight
 * Intense fear of gaining weight
 * Distorted perception of body weight.
 * Anorexic people will use extreme methods of "weight control" that impact their lives (i.e. they don't just cut out candy and do a few extra push-ups)
 * Will severely limit calorie intake
 * May vomit up food on purpose
 * Bulimia Nervosa
 * Symptoms include:
 * Dangerously low body weight
 * Intense fear of becoming obese, regardless if they are gaining or losing body weight
 * Distorted view on their own weight, may feel or claim to be fat even if dangerously underweight
 * Refuses to maintain minimum normal body weight - must constantly be loosing weight
 * Irregular/non-existent menstrual cycle
 * Due to incredible amounts of stress on the mind and body
 * Excessive physical activity
 * Denies feelings of hunger
 * Preoccupation with food preparation/obsession with food and their calories
 * Bizarre eating behaviors/not eating at all
 * Dehydration
 * Dry, immalleable skin
 * Abdominal pain
 * Lethargy, fatigue, dizziness
 * Developement of "lanugo" (soft, thin hair foun on fetuses and newborns)
 * Jaundice
 * Organ failure, and then death

Childhood Anorexia -

 * Although in previous years anorexia was considered to be a "teenage" illness, younger and younger children have been diagnosed with this illness.
 * This is due to the increased exposure to media young children are experiencing in recent years
 * In the past, people would develop anorexia due to religious purposes (extreme fasting), but now it is due to poor body image and how the disease is promoted in society.
 * 95% of all people with this disease are female
 * It is almost purely environmentally based, but certain genetic factors also play a major part
 * The majority of people with this disease are of the upper/middle class, but people of all socioeconomic classes have been reported having this illness
 * Normally caused or worsened by another mental disorder (ex.: anxiety)
 * People think weight is equivalent to self-worth

Causes of Anorexia -

 * Poor body image, insecurity
 * Media
 * Models, "Photoshopped" bodies
 * Friends, relatives, peer-pressure
 * Family history/genetics
 * ex.: Low amounts of serotonin and dopamine
 * Coping with abuse, feeling in control

Common Misconceptions -

 * Not all anorexic people are skinny
 * People in the early stages of the disorder will likely be of a normal weight (or even above average)
 * People who are dangerously skiny are in the later stages of the disease
 * In many cases, it may be too late to help at this point
 * Don't say someone with anorexia "doesn't look like it," because if you can't obviously see that this is the single worst thing to say to someone with the disease, I will explode.
 * It isn't "cool" to be anorexic
 * Anorexia, if left untreated, will result in death by starvation
 * You cannot choose to be anorexic, just as you cannot chose to be schizophrenic, or develop any other mental disorder

Works Cited -

 * Halmi, Katherine A. "Anorexia Nervosa: An Increasing Problem in Children and Adolescents." Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. Les Laboratoires Servier, n.d. Web. 04 June 2015.
 * "Anorexia Nervosa." Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 June 2015.
 * "Anorexia Nervosa: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 04 June 2015.
 * "Anorexia Nervosa in Children." Anorexia Nervosa in Children. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 June 2015.