Albaab
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 6, 2015
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An insight to most common emotional problems in our societies
DEPRESSION
ANXIETY
Anxiety attacks and anxiety disorders are common..
People with generalized anxiety disorder experience exaggerated tension and worry every day, even when there is no specific cause. People with the disorder may worry disproportionately about family problems, health issues, problems at work or financial matters. Sometimes, simply the thought of getting through the day can produce severe anxiety.
People with generalized anxiety disorder have trouble getting rid of the worry, even if they are aware that there is no real cause for such intense anxiety. They have a tendency to startle easily and are often unable to relax. Concentration is difficult. People may have sleep problems, finding it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Generalized anxiety disorder is often associated with physical symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches and tension, sensations of a lump in the throat, twitching or trembling, irritability, headaches, nausea, sweating, feeling faint or lightheaded, hot flashes, shortness of breath or the need to urinate frequently.
When anxiety is severe, people may have difficulty carrying out simple daily routines and activities.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder occurs when severe anxiety is experienced long-term, it involves constant and excessive worry about things that may go wrong. In some cases, generalized anxiety disorder is accompanied by phobias or panic attacks.
Generalized anxiety disorder rarely occurs alone . Co-occurring disorders may include substance abuse or depression.
So you should consider contacting a counselor or your physician if you experience any signs of anxiety
PHOBIAS
WHAT ARE PHOBIAS AND HOW DO THEY WORK?..
A social phobia is a common type of phobia that may involve a fear of meeting new people, being the center of attention, public speaking, using a public restroom, eating in front of other people, or activities as seemingly simple as making a telephone call. While a degree of nervousness is normal for most people, people with social phobias experience nearly paralyzing fear, severe anxiety and feelings of self-consciousness that make it nearly impossible to engage in certain activities.
Other phobias can be related to objects or animals and insects.
Typical symptoms of phobias and other anxiety disorders include:
A phobia is considered to be an anxiety disorder when it interferes with everyday life.
See a doctor if you experience anxiety or suffer from one or more phobias.
BURNOUT
Burnout is a condition associated with mental, physical and emotional exhaustion that occurs as a result of excessive, long-term stress. Burnout may cause you to feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with constant demands of everyday life. The motivation that caused you to take on the stress-causing role in the first place is diminished and begins to fade away.
If you are suffering from burnout, you may feel increasingly helpless and empty as your energy and productivity are depleted. Eventually, you may feel that you have no more to offer.
Most people feel frustrated, stressed, bored, resentful or overworked at times, and most people experience mornings when simply getting out of bed is a challenge. However, if you feel like this most of the time, you may be dealing with burnout.
Signs that you may be heading toward burnout include:
NARCISSISM
Most victims of trauma and abuse are women; however, we fully acknowledge that men are also victims of narcissistic abuse. If you are a man, please substitute the appropriate gender while reading this text:
Many women are brought up with to be sweet, nurturing and helpful, along with other typically feminine traits such as generosity and kindness. (Many men also display these traits.) However, many modern women are also accomplished, well-educated, capable and independent.
Strengths can become risk factors for abuse:
If you are uncertain whether you are the victim of a narcissist, remember that narcissistic abuse is serious and may be a matter of life and death. It isn’t resolved by simply “trying harder.” Victims are affected regardless of age, appearance, education, social standing or income level. In some cases, middle-aged women who have been discarded by a narcissistic partner may be depressed, alone, addicted, and even more susceptible to criminals, con men or other abusive individuals.
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
If you suffer from OCD, you may have distressing, intrusive, recurrent thoughts, urges, images or sensations that replace your regular, everyday thoughts. You may use special actions (compulsions), to prevent, cancel out or balance the obsessive thoughts, or to reduce the distress and fear associated with the thoughts, even when you know that the actions are irrational and make no sense.
Everybody experiences worry occasionally, such as concerns about cleanliness or a fear that you left the oven on or forgot to lock the door. However, the worry generally goes away relatively quickly and causes no further problems. If you have OCD, worry is repetitive and prevents other thoughts from entering your mind. You may repeat certain behaviors such as checking something over and over again, counting or mentally repeating a certain phrase in an attempt to rid yourself of the stuck thoughts.
Obsessions and compulsions vary widely and each person experiences the disorder differently. However, the common factors are that the obsessions cause anxiety, they happen frequently, and they don’t go away on their own. Common themes that people often obsess about include:
Eventually, people with OCD go to greater and greater lengths to avoid situations that trigger the obsessive patterns. This is how/ OCD can get in the way of normal, everyday life.
OCD is a type of anxiety disorder affecting children and adolescents as well as adults. Its symptoms are time consuming and may result in severe emotional distress and problems in relationships with others.
Contact a counselor or your physician if you suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder.
CO-DEPENDENCY
People with co-dependency tend to maintain one-sided relationships that are abuse and/or emotionally destructive.
Co-dependency was identified about ten years ago—the result of extensive studies of relationships in families of alcoholics. Co-dependent behavior is learned when a person watches and imitates the behavior of a family member with the disorder.
Co-dependency often affects a family member of a person afflicted with a dependency on alcohol or drugs, such as a parent, spouse or sibling. It can also affect friends or co-workers.
The term “co-dependency” was initially used to describe partners who are both addicted to drugs or alcohol, or to a person who lives with or is in a relationship with a person who is addicted. However, people in a relationship with a person who is physically or mentally ill may also develop codependency. The term is now used to describe any co-dependent person from a dysfunctional family.
A dysfunctional family is any family in which members experience anger, shame, fear or pain that is not acknowledged or discussed. A number of underlying problems may be present, including:
Relationships are unhealthy and unbalanced because energy and attention are directed to the addicted or ill family member. The co-dependent person sacrifices his own well-being to care for the sick or addicted person.
Although a co-dependent person means well, taking care of a chronically ill or addicted person is defeating and creates a dysfunctional cycle. In spite of good intentions, the co-dependent person’s attempts to help only enable the ill person to continue on the same destructive path. As a result, the ill or addicted person becomes even more dependent on the good-hearted attempts of the “helper.” As this unhealthy reliance grows, the co-dependent person begins to depend on the good feelings that come with “being needed” and eventually, caring for a sick person becomes a compulsion. The well-meaning codependent person begins to feel trapped, helpless and unable to break away from the behavior.
Co-dependent people generally display several common characteristics, including an irrational responsibility for the actions of other people. They often mistake pity for love, and tend to care most for people whom they can save or rescue. They do more than their share and feel hurt when their efforts aren’t recognized. They will go to great lengths to avoid feelings of rejection and abandonment.
Co-dependent people often display an unhealthy need for recognition and approval, and tend to feel guilty when they attempt to assert themselves. Eventually, co-dependent people lose trust in themselves and/or other people. They may become suspicious and controlling, developing an unreasonable fear of being alone or abandoned. They often develop difficulty in identifying their own feelings and may display problematic behavior such as dishonesty, lying, chronic anger, poor decision-making and poor communication skills. They may become inflexible and find it difficult to adjust to change.
If you think you have a problem with co-dependency, you may want to speak to your physician or therapist.
DEPRESSION
- Mental health professionals consider depression serious enough to be treated when negative feelings don’t resolve quickly, becoming so severe that they interfere with daily life.
- Depression is often the result of a biochemical imbalance in the brain that leads to a lack of important mood-balancing neurotransmitters such as serotonin and noradrenaline. Depression may also be caused by stressful events such as job loss, divorce, chronic or serious illness or loss of a loved one. Drinking too much alcohol is often associated with depression, and may be either the cause or the consequence of the low feelings. Some people have a pessimistic personality that makes them more susceptible to depression. Additionally, a child of a parent with depression is eight times more likely to experience depression.
- Signs of depression include fatigue and lack of energy, poor concentration, crying, irritability, feelings of hopelessness or helplessness and a continual low mood, which is often worse in the morning. Other signs of depression include guilt feelings, decreased sex drive, unexplained aches and pains, difficulty making decisions, restlessness, agitation, thoughts of suicide and an inability to enjoy activities that are usually pleasurable. People with depression may wake up earlier than usual or have trouble falling asleep. They may eat more than usual or experience loss of appetite.
- Nearly two-thirds of people who commit suicide are affected by depression.
- Although antidepressants medications are beneficial in the short-term, they often cause even more problems when they are used for long periods of time. Antidepressants often cause a decrease in sexual desire and function and other unwanted side-effects. Antidepressants also change the chemical makeup of the brain, which can lead to lower production of serotonin. Discontinuation of antidepressants may cause more severe depression and serious withdrawal symptoms than can result in a dependence, or addiction.
- People with depression may have a low mood, loss of energy, feelings of hopelessness, decreased self-worth and lack of interest in daily activities.
- Depression affects people of all ages and is a common disorder. it is estimated that at some point in their lives, 1 in every 4 women and 1 in every 10 men may experience depression serious enough to warrant treatment.
ANXIETY
Anxiety attacks and anxiety disorders are common..
People with generalized anxiety disorder experience exaggerated tension and worry every day, even when there is no specific cause. People with the disorder may worry disproportionately about family problems, health issues, problems at work or financial matters. Sometimes, simply the thought of getting through the day can produce severe anxiety.
People with generalized anxiety disorder have trouble getting rid of the worry, even if they are aware that there is no real cause for such intense anxiety. They have a tendency to startle easily and are often unable to relax. Concentration is difficult. People may have sleep problems, finding it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Generalized anxiety disorder is often associated with physical symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches and tension, sensations of a lump in the throat, twitching or trembling, irritability, headaches, nausea, sweating, feeling faint or lightheaded, hot flashes, shortness of breath or the need to urinate frequently.
When anxiety is severe, people may have difficulty carrying out simple daily routines and activities.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder occurs when severe anxiety is experienced long-term, it involves constant and excessive worry about things that may go wrong. In some cases, generalized anxiety disorder is accompanied by phobias or panic attacks.
Generalized anxiety disorder rarely occurs alone . Co-occurring disorders may include substance abuse or depression.
So you should consider contacting a counselor or your physician if you experience any signs of anxiety
PHOBIAS
WHAT ARE PHOBIAS AND HOW DO THEY WORK?..
A social phobia is a common type of phobia that may involve a fear of meeting new people, being the center of attention, public speaking, using a public restroom, eating in front of other people, or activities as seemingly simple as making a telephone call. While a degree of nervousness is normal for most people, people with social phobias experience nearly paralyzing fear, severe anxiety and feelings of self-consciousness that make it nearly impossible to engage in certain activities.
Other phobias can be related to objects or animals and insects.
Typical symptoms of phobias and other anxiety disorders include:
- fatigue
- insomnia and other sleep difficulties
- irritability
- lack of concentration
- feelings of detachment or lack of control
- shaking or trembling
- rapid heartbeat
- shortness of breath
- dry mouth
- stomach cramps
- diarrhea
- nausea or vomiting
- headaches
- dizziness
- hot or cold sweats
- frequent urination
- sensations of a lump in the throat
A phobia is considered to be an anxiety disorder when it interferes with everyday life.
See a doctor if you experience anxiety or suffer from one or more phobias.
BURNOUT
Burnout is a condition associated with mental, physical and emotional exhaustion that occurs as a result of excessive, long-term stress. Burnout may cause you to feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with constant demands of everyday life. The motivation that caused you to take on the stress-causing role in the first place is diminished and begins to fade away.
If you are suffering from burnout, you may feel increasingly helpless and empty as your energy and productivity are depleted. Eventually, you may feel that you have no more to offer.
Most people feel frustrated, stressed, bored, resentful or overworked at times, and most people experience mornings when simply getting out of bed is a challenge. However, if you feel like this most of the time, you may be dealing with burnout.
Signs that you may be heading toward burnout include:
- You feel hopeless and uninterested in work or your family life.
- You always feel tired and worn out.
- You find yourself spending most of your time on tasks that seem overwhelming or dull.
- It seems that your work is unappreciated and nothing you do makes a difference.
- You no longer enjoy life.
- A feeling of deep emptiness
- A lack of interest or caring Indecisiveness
- Lack of self esteem
- A desire to “run away”
- Erratic or conflicting emotions
- Loss of motivation
- Reduced contact with other people
- Feelings of being out of control
- Decreased interest in things you normally enjoy, such as entertainment, food or sex
- Physical symptoms such as body aches or heart palpitations
- Increased vulnerability and reduced resistance to colds, flu and other illness
NARCISSISM
Most victims of trauma and abuse are women; however, we fully acknowledge that men are also victims of narcissistic abuse. If you are a man, please substitute the appropriate gender while reading this text:
Many women are brought up with to be sweet, nurturing and helpful, along with other typically feminine traits such as generosity and kindness. (Many men also display these traits.) However, many modern women are also accomplished, well-educated, capable and independent.
Strengths can become risk factors for abuse:
- Traditionally, women have been considered the anchor of the family and the cornerstone of successful organizations and businesses. Because women (and men to a lesser degree) generally possess advanced social skills and a natural tendency towards empathy and helpfulness, they often fall prey to narcissistic or sociopathic partners.
- Narcissists are often charismatic and exciting, and they commonly display many of the most-valued feminine traits. This is why women (and some men) are fooled by the magnetic personality and often believe they have finally found their soul mate. Unfortunately, victims of narcissistic abuse can be exploited on an intense, profound level.
- It doesn’t take long for a narcissist to display his true nature, which involves energy-draining behavior and various forms of abuse. Narcissists commonly cheat, visit pornographic sites, commit adultery, tell grandiose lies or invent elaborate success stories or claim extraordinary intelligence or talents. In some cases, narcissists lead double lives, engaging in other relationships or marriages at the same time.
- Narcissists may engage in tax fraud or other criminal behaviors, but when confronted, they commonly turn the situation around and blame other people—usually their partner—of dishonesty, control and paranoia. They may embark on a campaign to portray their partner as mentally unstable, ill or weak. Narcissists may apologize, ask for forgiveness and promise to change, only to revert to narcissistic behavior after a few days or even hours. In a court of law, even savvy judges are fooled and beguiled, often ruling in the narcissist’s favor.
- Female partners of narcissists may live with the abuse for many years, often attempting to improve their situation by attempting to reason or bargain with the narcissistic partner, only to be repeatedly mistreated, abused and devalued. In many cases, their entire lives become twisted and distorted as they constantly attempt to try harder, or “fix” the problem. Partners may seek help, reassurance, support or therapy until the games and manipulation eventually become impossible to bear.
- Women in narcissistic relationships often resort to drugs or alcohol to escape the intense pain, and they may even become addicted to the narcissistic relationship. They may become depressed or express suicidal ideations or engage in other revengeful or self-harming behaviors. When women seek counseling, they are often diagnosed as depressed or addicted, but they are rarely identified as victims of abuse. Although narcissistic abuse is common, the behavior isn’t widely known or understood, even by mental health professionals or the justice system.
If you are uncertain whether you are the victim of a narcissist, remember that narcissistic abuse is serious and may be a matter of life and death. It isn’t resolved by simply “trying harder.” Victims are affected regardless of age, appearance, education, social standing or income level. In some cases, middle-aged women who have been discarded by a narcissistic partner may be depressed, alone, addicted, and even more susceptible to criminals, con men or other abusive individuals.
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
If you suffer from OCD, you may have distressing, intrusive, recurrent thoughts, urges, images or sensations that replace your regular, everyday thoughts. You may use special actions (compulsions), to prevent, cancel out or balance the obsessive thoughts, or to reduce the distress and fear associated with the thoughts, even when you know that the actions are irrational and make no sense.
Everybody experiences worry occasionally, such as concerns about cleanliness or a fear that you left the oven on or forgot to lock the door. However, the worry generally goes away relatively quickly and causes no further problems. If you have OCD, worry is repetitive and prevents other thoughts from entering your mind. You may repeat certain behaviors such as checking something over and over again, counting or mentally repeating a certain phrase in an attempt to rid yourself of the stuck thoughts.
Obsessions and compulsions vary widely and each person experiences the disorder differently. However, the common factors are that the obsessions cause anxiety, they happen frequently, and they don’t go away on their own. Common themes that people often obsess about include:
- Worry about dirt, germs or contamination
- Fear of a serious illness, even when no symptoms are present
- Fear of aggression—including harming yourself or others
- Magical obsessions, including beliefs in lucky or unlucky numbers
- Upsetting or forbidden sexual obsessions
- Religious or anti-religious thoughts
- Inability to discard old, worthless possessions (hoarding)
- Checking and re-checking, such as appliances, door locks or clocks
Eventually, people with OCD go to greater and greater lengths to avoid situations that trigger the obsessive patterns. This is how/ OCD can get in the way of normal, everyday life.
OCD is a type of anxiety disorder affecting children and adolescents as well as adults. Its symptoms are time consuming and may result in severe emotional distress and problems in relationships with others.
Contact a counselor or your physician if you suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder.
CO-DEPENDENCY
People with co-dependency tend to maintain one-sided relationships that are abuse and/or emotionally destructive.
Co-dependency was identified about ten years ago—the result of extensive studies of relationships in families of alcoholics. Co-dependent behavior is learned when a person watches and imitates the behavior of a family member with the disorder.
Co-dependency often affects a family member of a person afflicted with a dependency on alcohol or drugs, such as a parent, spouse or sibling. It can also affect friends or co-workers.
The term “co-dependency” was initially used to describe partners who are both addicted to drugs or alcohol, or to a person who lives with or is in a relationship with a person who is addicted. However, people in a relationship with a person who is physically or mentally ill may also develop codependency. The term is now used to describe any co-dependent person from a dysfunctional family.
A dysfunctional family is any family in which members experience anger, shame, fear or pain that is not acknowledged or discussed. A number of underlying problems may be present, including:
- A family member who is addicted to alcohol, drugs, food, work, relationships, gambling or sex.
- A family member who suffers from a chronic physical or mental illness.
- The existence of abuse, which may be emotional, physical or sexual.
Relationships are unhealthy and unbalanced because energy and attention are directed to the addicted or ill family member. The co-dependent person sacrifices his own well-being to care for the sick or addicted person.
Although a co-dependent person means well, taking care of a chronically ill or addicted person is defeating and creates a dysfunctional cycle. In spite of good intentions, the co-dependent person’s attempts to help only enable the ill person to continue on the same destructive path. As a result, the ill or addicted person becomes even more dependent on the good-hearted attempts of the “helper.” As this unhealthy reliance grows, the co-dependent person begins to depend on the good feelings that come with “being needed” and eventually, caring for a sick person becomes a compulsion. The well-meaning codependent person begins to feel trapped, helpless and unable to break away from the behavior.
Co-dependent people generally display several common characteristics, including an irrational responsibility for the actions of other people. They often mistake pity for love, and tend to care most for people whom they can save or rescue. They do more than their share and feel hurt when their efforts aren’t recognized. They will go to great lengths to avoid feelings of rejection and abandonment.
Co-dependent people often display an unhealthy need for recognition and approval, and tend to feel guilty when they attempt to assert themselves. Eventually, co-dependent people lose trust in themselves and/or other people. They may become suspicious and controlling, developing an unreasonable fear of being alone or abandoned. They often develop difficulty in identifying their own feelings and may display problematic behavior such as dishonesty, lying, chronic anger, poor decision-making and poor communication skills. They may become inflexible and find it difficult to adjust to change.
If you think you have a problem with co-dependency, you may want to speak to your physician or therapist.
