Video Blog

Sorry if it is hard to hear or understand me i have a sore throat right now so to me it sounds like i am talking loud.

Girl, Interrupted

Many people think “I’m normal, everyone else is crazy” but what if you really are the crazy one and do not even realize it? “Girl, Interrupted”, a hit movie portraying only a few mental illnesses people suffer from, proves that a young girl, Susannah Kaysen; played by Wynona Ryder, does not realize that she needs help. Susannah is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, a disorder in which individuals have difficulty developing a secure sense of who they are, this movie will make you question your own sanity because most people show the signs of BPD. Some treatments that the psychologists used in the movie for this disorder were hospitalization, one-on-one therapy, family therapy and medication, such as Colace (laxatives), Valium (mood stabilizer) and sleeping pills. I believe Susannah correlates to the Sociocultural Perspective, as well as the Behavioral Perspective because her parents are very socially accepted and want her to become someone she does not want to be and her disorder was stronger because she inherited it from one of her parents.

Another character who is also hospitalized is Lisa, played by Angelina Jolie, knows she has a disorder and is proud of it. Lisa is a Sociopath who suffers from Antisocial Personality Disorder, she is extremely manipulative, lacks guilt and has no remorse for any wrongdoing she has done. At first I thought Lisa was Schizophrenic, because of her outbursts and giggling at an inappropriate moment, she was acting abnormally but she was still in touch with reality. The treatments the doctor tried using for her disorder in the movie are medication (which she did not take), individual psychotherapy and shock therapy. Both the Medical Perspective and Psychoanalytic Perspective correlate to Lisa because she was unwanted and maybe have been severely neglected as a child, she pushes the buttons of everyone that is around her and has spent 8 years in the Claymoore institution. I believe she suffers from a chemical imbalance and that would explain the reasons for her actions.

Brittney Murphy also did a great job at portraying, Daisy, a girl who suffers from Mild Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, A disorder characterized by obsessions or compulsions, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a person re-experiences a stressful event in vivid flashbacks or dreams. She will only eat chicken from her fathers deli, was sexually abused by her father, Daisy also has outbursts of anger. The treatments used in the movie for this disorder were, hospitalization, medication, as well as individual therapy. Both Behavioral Perspective and Psychoanalytic Perspective correlate to Daisy, because even though she knows what her father is doing to her is in fact wrong, she likes it and feels guilt for it because she is receiving love and affection from her father.

Some of the other disorders I noticed in the movie were, eating disorders, a pathological liar,  and schizophrenia. When I started watching this movie, as I mentioned earlier, I did question myself that maybe I could have a Borderline Personality Disorder, I know I am a mother and going to school for radiology but who am I really? Do I have my own identity? Why do I argue so much when there is no need for it? Why is it that everything I do now is what doug likes? Maybe it is just part of growing up and becoming an adult, like my preferences have changed? this movie did make me analyze myself. I think the actors portrayed the illnesses perfectly, Brittney Murphy could have had more quirks about her to where the viewers did not have to wait to be told about her OCD, that was the only problem that stood out to me.

3D Brain Model/Reflection

*Reflection*

Making this model brain was fun! challenging but fun, my daughter helped me mold the brain and my boyfriend helped label. It was nice to turn my project into kind of a family bonding moment.

What have I learned?/Reflection

Applying Psychology to my everyday life

That is a big question to have to answer, what have I learned about General Psychology?  Since I struggled greatly with this class being my first online class, I think I learned a lot! From the states of consciousness to memory, motivation and emotion to development, as well as psychological disorders this topic definitely caught my interest. I have actually started applying what I learned to my life and daily routine.

First topic I was interested with is the “States of Consciousness” only because I have trouble sleeping and staying asleep sometimes. I learned that there are different types of consciousness, knowing what is going on around you, I read that drugs alter your consciousness more than you think and will make you think you need to do that drug again to feel a certain way. I never knew that Meditation is considered an altered state and not just a technique to calm or relax your mind. Also, I have acknowledged that I daydream a lot! Some would call it “zoning out” or just being deep in thought, I daydream at work, when I’m driving and cooking, even when I am at school.  

Next I read about “Memory” which is like a folder that you can put stuff in that you have read or learned, to hold until you need to use it or apply it. I thought short-term memory was always made up or just pretend, I had no idea that it is real and affects many people in their every day lives. I forget almost everything, so learning retrieval cues made sense because, for example, if I smell something it might bring up a memory from thanksgiving six years ago. Having a good memory is what you need when getting a job and going through school, If I could not remember how to make drinks, I would most likely be fired from my job at Starbucks.

When I look at my daughter, Aubrie, I start to realize that she is my “Motivation” for everything I do now. Why am I in school? So I can get a better job and give my daughter the life she deserves. I never thought about obesity and eating disorders to be apart of motivation, but now that I think about it, I guess you would have to be pretty motivated to be “skinny” to put yourself through that, even though it is harming your body while you are achieving your goal weight. Another type of motivation I learned was the “need for power” the fact that a woman showing concern for others is considered a high need for power amazed me, I just thought maybe that person was really concerned.

Different stages of life that people experience as we become older, also known as “Development” was very interesting to me because I apply some of what I learned to how I raise my daughter. Learning about Attachment has helped me understand why Aubrie is crying when I leave the room, or why she wants to be held but will ignore me when I come back. I would consider myself an Authoritative parent, just because when I was growing up I was controlled and not allowed to do a lot of things. I want my daughter to be independent and liked by everyone, I also want her to be friends with everyone but be goal oriented as well.

A chemical imbalance, chemical loss or some kind of trauma is what I think about when I hear “Psychological Disorders”. These disorders are not to be joked about, mental illness is real even if you cannot see it. My cousin, Amy, struggles with Bipolar Disorder and I struggle with Depression, Anxiety and ADD. I loved reading about the different types of Disorders and how most people who suffer from them receive no help at all. I remember being diagnosed with Depression when I explained to my doctor that I could not even be at work without randomly crying or just losing my concentration.

Overall I believe my favorite topic would have to be “Psychological Disorders”, I have already started applying it to people I see. I honestly think that a customer of mine is Schizophrenic just from the things he talks about and his behavior. I really enjoyed learning about different things that people can suffer with and it has taught me how to react when I see abnormal behavior that there might be some deep underlying cause for that behavior and not to judge too quickly.

*Reflection*

I'm very excited to continue applying what i have learned from this class to my life, it has helped me spot certain things at home with my daughter and how to talk to my boyfriend so we do not argue. This class has actually helped me with understanding my relationship and how to approach every day.

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease/Reflection

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s: Two Different, Yet Similar Diseases

As we start to age and become elders the neurotransmitters in our brains start to weaken and/or diminish completely, this is when Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease begin to set in. Many people assume that these late arriving, neurodegenerative diseases are linked or somehow related to one another. Let’s compare the two diseases to see what we can find out.

First these two diseases do in fact share some similarities but are not related. Both diseases bring on depression and anxiety as well as dementia in the late stages. Alzheimer’s is by far the most common cause of dementia, while Parkinson’s disease takes up a much smaller portion of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are both progressive, meaning they get worse over time. They also start showing signs late in life, around the age of 50. Both diseases are also characterized by microscopic clumps of abnormally modified proteins in the brain and spinal cord.

Even though they are similar, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease are two separate illnesses with different symptoms, treatments and mechanisms. In Alzheimer’s disease, the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine is what progressively diminishes over the course of the disease. The greatest underlying mechanism for Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of proteins called Beta-amyloid and Tau within the brain. Although we still do not know what causes Alzheimer’s, it can go on for many years without symptoms. Less than 5% of Alzheimer’s disease is caused by dominant genes that are transmitted through families. Some of the physiological effects of Alzheimer’s consists of rigid muscles, tremors are noticeable, incontinence, and difficulty remembering newly learned information. Alzheimer’s accounts for 50-80% of Dementia cases. More severe symptoms are disorientation, mood and behavior changes, and deepening confusion about events, time and place. In the early stages of AD, some may experience irritability, anxiety and depression, during the late stages of AD some may experience aggression, delusions, and sleep disturbances, along with physical and verbal outbursts.

Parkinson’s Disease has two distinct features clumps of protein called Lewy Bodies and the loss of a Dopamine-producing neurons in an area of the brain called the substantia-nigra. Dopamine is needed in that part of the brain to control movement and coordination. The development of Parkinson’s is a combination of genetic and environmental factors, it can also develop from pesticides and herbicides as well as drinking well water. Some physiological effects from Parkinson’s consists of sexual dysfunction, decreased sense of smell, vision problems, impaired thinking, excessive daytime sleepiness and Insomnia. The disease itself causes changes in chemicals of the brain. Approved drug treatments work to increase the amount of dopamine available within the brain, but over time, as the disease progresses, the benefits of the drug often diminish and become less consistent.

In conclusion, as many people grow older and are becoming at risk for both diseases, I think we can agree that there are two more similarity shared between these diseases, hope and research. Neurologists and Scientists around the world are working together to find a cure and better treatments for these diseases to help the many people diagnosed with them.

*Reflection*

I chose this activity due to the fact that my grandparents are getting older and sometimes my grandfather will call me by my moms name. It does make me think that maybe he could have developed Alzheimers Disease but he soon realizes that he made the mistake. Just doing the research and reading about both diseases was very interesting actually, I enjoy learning about diseases and disorders that I do not fully understand. 

ABCs of Psychology/Reflection

Ageism: Prejudice against older people.

            Ex. The angsty teenager was talking smack about elder people at the county fair.

Bystander Intervention: Willingness to assist a person in need of help.

            Ex. Sarah wanted to help her friend get past her addiction.

Catharsis: Process of expressing strongly felt but usually repressed emotions.

            Ex. Kaleb always felt strong feelings towards Beth, but always kept it in because he was afraid of rejection. Eventually he ranted to her about his undying love for her.

Decision Aversion: Tendency to avoid decision making.

            Ex. Cristian knew he had to make the decision on whether he wanted to move or not, but he repeatedly chose to put it in the back of his mind until it was too late and the decision was made for him.

Ego Defense Mechanisms: Mental strategies used by the ego to defend itself against conflicts experienced in the normal course of life.

            Ex. Sera got mad that her ego had been shot down so she took it out on someone that wasn’t even relevant.

Frame: A particular description of choice.

            Ex. Jimmy decided to jump off the bridge into the lake with his friends instead of doing his school work because he didn’t understand it.

Generativity: A commitment beyond ones self and ones partner to family, work, society and future generations.
            Ex. Douglas takes great pride in being the union steward, everyone looks up to him and goes to him for any and all questions.

Hozho: A Navajo concept referring to harmony, peace of mind, goodness, ideal family relationships, beauty in arts and crafts and health of body and spirit.

             Ex. For me, meditation is very Hozho, or peaceful.

Illusory Contours: Contours perceived in a figure when no contours are physically present.

             Ex. I kept looking at the light pole down the street and there was a bend in the middle, but when I stood in front of it there was no bend.

Job Burnout: The syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment often experienced by workers in high-stress jobs.

              Ex. Susan keeps talking about how she hates her job and she is always exhausted when she gets home, she should talk to someone so she can take a vacation and recuperate.

Kinesthetic Sense: Sense concerned with bodily postion and movement of the body relative.

              Ex. One day at work I was walking around the end of the counter and bumped into it kind of hard, my kinesthetic sense did not know what was about to happen that day.

Libido: The pychic energy that drives individuals toward sensual pleasures of all types, especially sex.

              Ex. Ambers lack of libido is a sign that she is depressed.

Motivation: Process of starting, directing and maintaining physical and psychological activities. 

              Ex. Amy was in need of some motivation to go to the gym today.

Narcolepsy: A sleep disorder characterized by an irresistible compulsion to sleep during the daytime.

              Ex. Monica "Is Haley really asleep it's 2 in the afternoon", Christina "Yes she's Narcoleptic, this happens all the time."

Out-groups: The groups with which people do not identify.

              Ex. I did not associate with a lot of people in school, I guess you could say I was apart of the out-group.

Pyschophysics: Study of the correspondence between physical stimulation and psychological experience.

               Ex. Some people like pepsi, I prefer coke and other people like both.

Q:

Ritual healing: Ceremonies that infuse special emotional intensity and meaning into the healing process.

               Ex. I was always told to burn sage or incense to bring in the healing element.

Self-report measures: The self behaviors that are identified through a participants own observations.

                Ex. I believe I may be Bi-polar because my moods change so frequently and I sometimes cannot sleep at night.

Think-Aloud Protocols: Reports made by experimental participants of the mental processes and strategies they use while working on a task.

                Ex.  People think Sarah is talking to herself, but she is really making mental notes.

Unconscious Inference: Helmboltz term for perception that occurs outside of conscious awareness.

                Ex. The wind is not blowing but I think I see the tree swaying.

Vestibular Sense: The sense that tells how ones own body is oriented in the world to with respect to gravity.

                 Ex. When I would spin in circles as a child then try to walk my vestibular sense would be impaired and i would fall over.

Wisdom: Expertise in the fundamental pragmatics of life.

                 Ex. My grandparents are full of wisdom that I hope to learn one day.

X:

Yerkes-Dodson Law: A correlation between task performance and optimal level of arousal.

                 Ex. I always do better on a test when I am a little nervous.

Zygote: Single cell that results when a sperm fertilizes an egg.

                  Ex. I have a baby growing inside of my stomach. (totally fictional!)



*Reflection*
Having to come up with my own examples for each of these terms/definitions, I think helped me understand the words a little better. Right now a friend of mine is going through vestibular therapy and at first I never understood what that meant, it was just some kind of therapy, but after looking it up and finding the definition I realize now what is wrong with her. While at work she cannot stand on our mats because it throws her balance off, it all makes sense to me now.

Soundtrack of my life/Reflection

Infancy: Trust vs. Mistrust

Even though they argued all the time never meant I stopped loving and trusting my parents. I know no matter what they will always be there for me and I'll be there for them.

Early Childhood: Autonomy vs. Shame

I never learned how to be independent until my parents went through their divorce because my mom was learning how to be independent at the same time. When I was kid I was very controlled, now that I am older I can see a lot of things wrong with my childhood.

Preschool: Initiative vs. Guilt

My parents did let me do some things on my own but they stopped me the majority of my childhood, I was restricted a lot so I felt like I couldn't do anything. My mom used to hold me back from a lot of things when I was growing up.

School Age: Industry vs. Inferiority

I remember hearing my parents argue all the time and never feeling like I did anything right. My parents were always fighting so I got most of my encouragement and attention from my older brother or teachers. I was usually in trouble at school for not doing my homework so it made things worse at home.

Adolescence: Identity vs. Role Confusion

At this time in my life, i was drinking and smoking weed, also had struggled with who i wanted to be in life. I was hanging out with my older brother and his friends, so my younger friends did not do the same things that I was interested in.

Young Adult: Intimacy vs. Isolation

Right now I am in a secure relationship with a man who makes me feel safe, loved and who provides for me, he is also the father of my child and hopefully future husband.

Middle Adult: Generativity vs. Stagnation

This is how I feel about my mother and how I hope my daughter will feel about me. Some people just stick their parents in a nursing home and visit on major holidays, I only wish if my mother was ever put in a nursing home that I visit her every day or have her live with me.

Maturity: Ego Integrity vs. Despair

I want to be able to look back on my life and know that I lived it to its fullest potential and not regret one thing. I want to be able to die knowing that my children are safe and happy with their own families.

*Reflection*

This activity really hit home with me, I laughed at some of the songs I chose and I also cried because some of them hit me really deep down, I can't explain my childhood except it was one that I do not want my daughter to see or to have. I witnessed a lot of things that I wish I could unsee, but you know, I'm working through my problems and life is getting better.