Our World On: Tourette's

Hello and welcome back! Sorry guys, it's been wayyy too long since I've posted a blog but here I am again!

So today is a very different mental illness. Well.. it's not so much an illness but a syndrome. Now this syndrome is called "tourette". Not many people know about this syndrome/illness but this blog will help you guys know what it really is. 

Now "Tourette Syndrome" is a disorder of the nervous system made up by various different unwanted expressions and noises. Those are called "tics". Here is a video that explains what tics are and the different kinds: 

This video shows the different kinds of tics people have.

It was very difficult to find a video that didn't have any swearing in it because there are tics like that. When people have tics, they can't control it and I find that really sad because they get judged and it makes me sad. I can't imagine having this but sometimes I find myself doing things similar to that, people just can't help it.

The main symptom are tics. Stress, excitement or being sick can make these worse.

There are two different kinds of tics. There are “motor” and “vocal” tics. There are two different kinds of motor tics, which are: simple and complex. Simple motor tics are characterized by brief spasms with one or more limited muscle groups. An eye twitch, arm or head jerking, blinking, making a face are examples of a simple ones. Complex motor tics come off as more complicated by using one or more muscle spasms with no limit. Some examples of complex motors are jumping and hitting oneself. Vocal tics consists of using your voice or any sound. Some examples of simple vocal tics are humming, barking or yelping, coughing, repeating what someone said, sniffing. Some complex ones would be swearing and yelling.

This upsets me because, no matter what you have, people get bullied. This syndrome/illness is also attached  to ADHD and ADD. When kids have ADHD they like to talk and move around so it really is kind of like that but in a different way which, in some cases, can be worse. I’ve mentioned in a lot of my blogs that bullying upsets me because it’s true. People can’t change who they are!

The next thing I will be talking about are the causes of tourette’s tics. There isn’t a specific cause for this but tourette’s is linked to different part of the brain including an area called the basal ganglia which controls body movements. The difference is that something could affect the nerve cells in a bad way and the chemicals that carry messages between them. It is said that this could be a cause of the syndrome.

There are ways to treat this only if the tics start becoming problem, a doctor will prescribe some medications to sooth the tics. Medications include: Haldol, Orap are some that can help with controlling the tics. Catapres and Tenex can treat them. There are more medications available. Along with getting medicine, it is always good to consider talk therapy and behavior therapy to help severe tics.

In conclusion, I hope you guys liked this blog because it was different then my other ones. I like writing blogs because not only do I give an opinion on what I think but I give other people information too! I love helping people and these blogs make that happen! So long my readers, see you in my next blog!

Sources:
1. http://www.webmd.com/brain/tourettes-syndrome
2. http://www.webmd.com/brain/tourettes-syndrome?page=3

Our World On: OCD

This blog, my 6th blog, wow.. I've posted 6 blogs already?? That's insane! In my 6th blog, I will be talking about a mental illness that I know well... OCD. In this blog, I will be talking about symptoms, causes, personal experiences, etc.

Now, OCD is just a acronym for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is given that name because it is made up of two parts: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are urges or images that don't go away and are repetitive and unwanted. This also causes a lot of anxiety. For example, someone might worry about making people they love sick by bringing in germs. Obsessions are not thoughts people would normally worry or focus on and they are not about a person's character. 

Compulsions are actions. These actions are meant to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions. Compulsions may be behaviors like washing, cleaning and putting things in order in a certain way. On the other hand, some are not obvious to others like for example, some people will repeat things in their head. Some people think that they have to keep doing it until it feels ''right''. It's a way to cope with obsessions. 

I remember in grade 4, I had OCD, you could say that I still have it now but not as bad as I had it before. I remember I had made my bed and I didn't want anyone sitting on it or else it would be wrinkly, I even had my teddy bears all lined up and neatly put at the end of my bed. Also, when we would go on trips, I would fold everything so it would be perfectly neat and clean. I would even fold it more than once to make sure it was PERFECTLY done.

There isn't really a cause for OCD, but there are likely many different things involved such as family history, biology and life experiences. 

If you have this, do you have these? 
Thoughts, for example: I'm responsible for that accident, What if I get sick but don't know it and get my parents sick when I touch them?, etc. 
Physical feelings: Stomachaches, dizziness, racing heart, shallow breathing, headaches, muscle tension, etc. 
Emotions: Anxiety/worry/fear, sadness, shame, guilt, anger/rage.
Behavior: washing hands and body excessively, repeating certain sentences in multiples two to four times, doubting something has been done correctly, etc.

I've noticed that when someone has OCD that it has some effects in school, organization and focus, personal hygiene, etc. When I do my work now, it takes me a long time because I want everything to be nice and neat, AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME. It affects my work because it takes me longer than I wanted it too. 

To end my post, I would like to thank whoever is reading. I hope these blogs help and interest people from all around, it still makes me happy that people from across the world could be reading my post, it just amazes me. Keep on reading! :) 


Sources:
1. http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder/#.V0N_YYQrLIU
2. https://www.anxietybc.com/parenting/obsessive-compulsive-disorder

Our World On: ADHD

Why hello there my fellow readers, how are you guys doing? On this post, I will be talking about a subject that is more or so popular in our world today: ADHD. I plan to talk about this because I know a couple people who get bullied for having this disorder and a lot of people need to understand this more.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a condition made by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and sometimes impulsivity. This disorder is made by many different things like for example: smoking or drinking during pregnancy, birth complications or low birth weight, etc. The only way a person can get this disorder is by birth, you can't get it after birth.

"You can't change who you are, and you shouldn't be asked to" ~Jonathon Mooney

I like this quote because it speaks for every mental illness in the world, no one can control it but people are asked to anyway because they don't take the time to think and understand.

What happens with ADHD is that there is different groups of symptoms that all work at the same time to create their actions and thoughts. There are three different groups of symptoms which are: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

When a child has the symptoms of inattention it is because they think the subject or activity is boring but if they are interested in what is going on, they have no problem focusing and staying on task. Some of the symptoms for this are:
- Lack of attention;
- Easily distracted or has trouble focusing;
- Trouble following instructions or remembering things;
- Does not listen when spoken too;
- Etc...

The next group of symptoms is hyperactivity. These symptoms are when the child can't stop moving and is doing a lot all at once. These symptoms consist of:
- Moves around constantly;
- Talks excessively;
- Is always "on the go";
- Has a quick temper or short fuse;
- Etc...

"People with ADHD often have a special 'feel' for life, a way of seeing right into the heart of matters, while others have to reason their way methodically" ~Edward M. Hallowell, M.D.

And finally the last group is called impulsivity. This is when a child has trouble with self-control. 
- Acts without thinking;
- Interrupts others often;
- Says the wrong thing at the wrong time;
- Etc...

This is where most of the bullying comes from because, I, myself know people with ADHD who get bullied by not having self control. I hear people in my lifetime talk about them behind their backs because of the way they act and the way they speak too loud. I just imagine the way they would feel if people were talking about them behind THEIR back. 

Everyone assumes that if a person has ADHD that it means that they won't get employed or won't do well in life but that is not true because there a lot of positive qualities about ADHD. For example: creativity. A child with ADHD tends to be very imaginative and creative since all they do is think, all these ideas pop in their head at once which can make them problem solvers, just a had full of ideas or an artist. They can also become flexible with other ideas people give, they are enthusiastic/spontaneous and have a lot of energy.

There are ways to help this but it won't get rid of the disorder itself. The most common medication used to help the symptoms are called: Ritalin, Adderall and Dexedrine. These help the symptoms and help the child relax a bit. 

To conclude my fifth post, I hope my readers are enjoying my blog so far. Please comment if I am missing anything or if you have any suggestions of any sort. Thank you all for reading, I hope you guys are enjoying my opinions and information! :)





















Sources:
1. http://www.helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/attention-deficit-disorder-adhd-in-children.htm
2. Google Images
3. http://www.helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/attention-deficit-disorder-adhd-medications.htm

4.

Our World On: Schizophrenia

What's up my people?! Sorry for taking so long to update BUT I am back and got more information and opinions on a new subject: Schizophrenia. 

In my lifetime, I don't know anyone with the mental illness schizophrenia but it is one the most common mental disorders in the world. Anytime I would ask about schizophrenia, people would get confused because in our society, every one is focused on depression and anxiety and such. 

To start this off, I'm going to be telling you guys about schizophrenia actually is. This is a biochemical brain disorder that affects a person's ability to know what is reality ans what is not. It's like it sends messages to the brain that go along the wrong path, leading to the wrong conclusions. People with schizophrenia are affected by delusions (false beliefs that can be terrifying to that person), hallucinations (sensory experiences, such as hearing voices talking abut them when there isn't actually anyone there), social withdraw and disturbed thinking. 

This video shows you what it's like to live with Schizophrenia.

That video, the first time I saw it, freaked me out because of all the voices talking at the same time. I was scared for that person.. I can't imagine living with schizophrenia.

"If you are talking to God, you are praying; If God talks back to you, you have Schizophrenia." ~Thomas Szasz 

The next thing I will be talking about are there early warning signs of schizophrenia. There are many warning signs for this kind of disorder, such as: inability to cry of express joy, depression, inappropriate laughter or crying, oversleeping or insomnia, forgetful or unable to concentrate, extreme reaction to criticism, strange use of words or way of speaking, and others.

Schizophrenia doesn't really have a cause but researches believe that a combination of genetics and environment contributes to the development of this illness. Problems occurring with the brain chemicals, including neurotransmitters called dopamine and glutamate also may cause schizophrenia.

Not only are there the warning signs, but as always, SYMPTOMS. For this type of disorder, there are VERY different kind of symptoms, oppose to depression and anxiety. One of them are called 'delusions' and there are four different types:

-The first one is called: Delusions of persecution. This means that the person believes that others, often a vague ''them'', are out to get them. These often involve strange ideas and plots (ex. Martians are trying to poison me with radioactive particle delivered through my tap water.) Yikes!!

-The second one is called: Delusions of reference. This is a neutral environmental event is believed to have special and personal meaning.  For example, the person on the TV or radio is sending them a message meant specifically for them.

-The third one is called: Delusions of grandeur. This means that the person thinks that God is talking to them and saying that they have some sort of power (ex. ability to fly.)

-And last: Delusions of control. This is when a person thinks their actions and thoughts are being controlled by alien forces. For example, ''my private thoughts are being transmitted to others''.

Hallucinations is another big symptom for his disorder because that's where a lot of those delusions come from. For example, if they are hallucinating, they will either see a person right in front of them holding something terrifying in their hand. In a video that I saw on YouTube, the guy said that when he has hallucinations, he says that the people he sees are usually carrying either a knife, a rope or a gun. I can never imagine having this kind of mental disorder!

"There are things that tend to moderate with age. Schizophrenia is somewhat like that." ~John Forbes Hash Jr.

In conclusion, I wanted to write about Schizophrenia because not many people know about this kind of mental illness but they should because a lot of people in the world think that depression is the only reason why people commit suicide but that's not the ONLY reason. Yes, when people are schizophrenic they get depressed but there is more to it. This is a very scary thing. Anyway, this is it for my blog today. I'm sorry about this, I feel like my blogs are very depressing, I'm not trying to make them like that but I just want to give you guys the information needed. Until next time my fellow readers!

Sources:
1. http://www.helpguide.org/articles/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-signs-types-and-causes.htm
2. Google Images 

Our World On: Anxiety

Hiiiii guys!! I hope you guys enjoyed my first disorder blog which was my last post, I hope I gave you guys a lot of information about a very important topic in our society. 

On this blog, I will be talking about anxiety, this topic is also very common in our society, just like depression. In this blog I will be talking about how this happens, how it affects the brain, symptoms, attacks, how to overcome and so on. 

I have heard that anxiety is a problem in the brain that makes a person feel worried, nervous and more or so uneasy with everyday life. Anxiety is another way of saying that someone is being paranoid, but for every second of the day. In my opinion, I think it's when the person is thinking over something that isn't really there but they are making it an event bigger problem for themselves. In my life, I have had many experiences with some anxiety. I chose to talk about anxiety for this blog because of the fact that this topic is also close to me, people I know and it's one the the worlds most common mental illness' and I feel that more people should know more about it.

"Now is the age of anxiety" ~W. H. Auden

I chose this quote because in our generation, more and more people develop these kinds of mental disorders. Like I said in my last blog, depression is increasing also. There are multiple reasons why this is happening, like for example: bullying, stress, etc. and I've come to realize that this is also the generation where all of that is happening the most. What I think, I think we live in a world where everyone seems to be less happy, but sometimes it's something we can't control. 

The cause of this mental disorder does not have a specific cause because it is only known by if a person has certain symptoms that all happen at the same time. Most of the symptoms for anxiety is: dry mouth, feelings of fear/panic/uneasiness, problems sleeping, can't stay still for long periods of time, shortness of breath, dizziness, etc.. When I experience some sort of anxiety, I start to feel a lot of panic and fear and because I would think about it so much, I would have some trouble sleeping. 

I looked up what an anxiety attack was because, I always heard about it but never really knew WHAT is was and I decided to share the information that I found on the website and it explained that an anxiety attack is when someone has an episode of severe panic and fear. These attacks usually happen without a warning but sometimes it will be easy to tell when it will happen because the person will be over thinking, for example if someone is thinking about giving a big speech in front of a lot of people. Anxiety attacks usually last 10 minutes, if not more, but they rarely last 30 minutes. This really interested me because I didn't know that they could last that long.

During the time of an attack, a person can feel like they are losing control, having the feeling like they are gonna have a heart attack and even dying. After an attack has occurred, the person will think that another one will happen but in a location where they cannot get help. The symptoms of an anxiety attack are: nausea, hyperventilation, trouble breathing/choking sensation, hot flashes/chills, light headed, chest pains, feeling of losing control or going crazy, surge of overwhelming panic, etc. 

"Anxiety is practicing failure in advance. Anxiety is needless and imaginary. It's fear about fear, fear that means nothing" ~ Seth Godin

In conclusion, I think that it is possible to overcome anything in life if you try your hardest and put your mind to it. If you suffer from anxiety, I suggest you follow these tips: breath deeply, exercise, meditate or pray, keep a healthy diet, try an herbal remedy, visit a therapist, etc. If you are someone who knows a person with anxiety, I want you to do these following tips: tell them that you will be there if they feel any different, talk to them about their experiences, offer to go with them to their appointments, encourage them to do the tips I said before (for someone who has the disorder) and finally, tell them that they have to trust their doctors and you because you are there to listen and help a person in need. 


Sources:
1. www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/causes-anxiety
2. www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-anxiety-disorders
3. http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Anxiety
4. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/family-and-friends/caring-for-someone-with-depression-or-anxiety

Our World On: Depression

Welcome back guys! I'm glad that people have been enjoying my blog so far, even if it was only the introduction. I really appreciate that people are interested in my topic.

To start off my first disorder blog, I'm going to talk about depression. I chose to talk about depression first because this topic means a lot to me, I know many people that have had experiences with depression and I, myself, have had some. As some people may know, depression is increasing in our society today. The statistics say that about 5-15% of our population has developed a major depression in their life-times. 

"Depression is a prison where you are both the suffering prisoner and the cruel jailer" ~Dorothy Rowe

To begin this blog, I will be talking about: the definition, causes, symptoms, personal experiences and treatments. In my opinion depression is what happens when someone feels stuck, doesn't know what to do, feels like they're empty inside, rarely show any emotion, have trouble thinking, are upset, etc. 

There is something in the body that is called serotonin that is also the happiness hormone, when a person becomes sad, the serotonin goes down. In that case, when a person is depressed, it means they're sad, which means the serotonin diminishes.

I have heard that most of the causes of depression are caused by either a loss of a loved one, genetics, over thinking, bullying stress, when they don't feel like they are good enough for themselves and for other people.

On most websites, they say that the symptoms of depression are: feelings of hopelessness/helplessness, lost of interest, changes in appetite, changes in the sleep pattern, reckless behavior, etc. In my opinion, I see these with people that I know that have depression or that had depression. I know many people who have this disorder and the symptoms are very noticeable. For example, one of my friends won't be very motivated to do anything a lot of the time, she won't eat like she did before, she'll look upset and her sleep pattern is off and finally she'll have a lot of trouble thinking plus a lot of over thinking. 

There are not a lot of treatments for this disorder, there's only a few but that's okay because there is something to help this. I heard from a lot of people that antidepressants are the kind of medication that help with the symptoms. An antidepressant is a medication that helps the serotonin balance itself out so that the mood can be improved. 

When talking about depression, a lot of people don't go asking for help. Instead, they do the opposite and think suicidal. I think when people are depressed, the first thing they think of is "no one cares, I'll just help myself on my own terms" and they go straight to suicide. I know a couple of people that have self-harmed because they didn't know what else to do. I can give you a couple ways to help:
-get some happy music and sing along;
-work out more;
-tell them to see a counselor, they are there too listen;
-etc.

"Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light" ~Madeline L'Engle 

There is always a way to help people, you just have to do your research, think hard and set your mind to it. I hope this blog helped. I will be back soon with my second disorder blog: Anxiety. Please comment if you want me too change anything. I am sorry if this blog looks really upsetting, but the subject is. I hope too see more people reading and following! 

Until next time...

Sources:
1. http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/causes-depression
2. http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-signs-and-symptoms.htm
3. Google Images
4. My brain
5. Things I've learned about in my life-time.

Introduction on the Subject

Hey guys! My name is Corinne and on this blog I will be talking about Mental Health/Illness. This topic is very important to me for many different reasons whether it's personal or not. In my following blogs I will be discussing what mental health/illness is, how our society is treating it, personal experiences, and so on. 

I chose this opinion because this topic is close to my heart, it has affected me in many different ways. I've had many different experiences. Not only myself but I know other people who have had experiences that have affected my life. I feel that the majority of people believe in the stigma but not the actual meaning. The world can do so much if we just put our minds to it. 

I think that a lot of people think of the stigma of mental illness and don't stop and think about what that person can be going through just by having this mental illness. In our society right now, people are getting bullied for having a mental disorder that they CAN'T control. In my opinion, our society isn't doing much to help. We need to change that!

My blog will be divided in different sorts of mental illness'. There are vast amounts of illness' in the world that a lot of people have no acknowledgement that they exist. A lot of them have to do with the mind but only one or two have to do with the body but I won't be talking about that kind of disorder. I read somewhere that there is almost 300 mental illness' that exist in the world, which is a lot. 

Here are a couple disorders that I will be discussing about in my future blogs:
-Depression
-Anxiety
-Schizophrenia
-ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
-OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
-Tourrette's
-Bipolar Mood Disorder
-Eating Disorder (Anorexia)

Here is a website that has facts about Mental Illness: http://www.cmha.ca/media/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/#.VsDpH_krLIU if you would like to see any interesting things you might not of known about this subject. 

The majority of people think a mental illness is just something to seek attention but in reality whoever has it can not control what happens. A mental illness is a condition in the human brain that affects the mood and thinking pattern. For example, depression and anxiety are mental disorders that mess with how people think. 

In my experience, I know many people with some kind of mental illness, whether it's severe or mild. A lot of people can take medications to help with the symptoms of the disorder. I will be talking more about the medications, treatments, symptoms and causes further into the blogs.

"Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but the stigma and bias shame us all" ~Bill Clinton

In conclusion, I hope that this introduction interests you to read more. Feel free to comment your opinions and suggestions. I look forward to seeing what people think of my subject and how I describe it. Please give positive feedback, NO HARSH COMMENTS. 

Until my next one... 

Sources:

1. https://www.google.ca/search?newwindow=1&biw=1366&bih=667&tbm=isch&q=mental+health+quotes&revid=1185823919&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBq-uEhvjKAhWEPB4KHUugB5wQ1QIIIQ#imgrc=Vo6JDXOmGOi1zM%3A

2. https://www.google.ca/search?q=mental+illness&oq=mental+illness&aqs=chrome.0.0l6.15998j1j4&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8

3. http://www.cmha.ca/media/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/#.VsDpH_krLIU

4. http://psychcentral.com/disorders/