Difficulties and Diagnoses
Under construction. This page will eventually be the home of fundamental information for different types of diagnoses and difficulties people struggle with that often prompt professional services. Please note: much of the information I post here is simply my sense of things, particularly in how the material is organized. While professionals endeavor to share vocabulary, our philosophy/organization of this material is often a little different.
Before We Discuss Items in Detail- The DSM-IV (TR) (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV, Text Revision)
The DSM-IV (soon to be the DSM-V) is the industry standard primary source of diagnostic information for all issues of emotional and mental “illnesses” (for brevity’s sake), and developmental disabilities. All mental health professionals are charged with the responsibility of using this book as the means of identifying and diagnosing problems that we treat. It is broken up into several sections that cover different kinds of problems.
Just like the common cold or other physical illnesses, one does not have to have every symptom to be diagnosed with a problem. It’s also possible to have more than one diagnosis at a time, and often is. This book is arguably based on a “medical model” of symptoms (usually observable, measurable indicators of problems), diagnosis, etiology (study of where an illness comes from), treatment options, and prognosis.
This book does little to give direction about types of treatment, but enables us to have a “convention” about how we diagnose problems, and communicate about them in a shorthand manner. Am mentioning this book first, because the “names” (diagnoses) we give to different kinds of problems we treat all come from this book. Below, I will describe some of these problems and diagnoses, loosely defined and described by the book for some ease of use and understanding for non-professionals.
Stuff We All Suffer: Problems, Issues, Technical Difficulties
Oversimplifying (maybe by a margin), most all our lives have pitfalls between us and us, us and other people, us and the planet in general. Am referring here to relationships (mates, friends, kids, family members, neighbors, coworkers…), school, work, self-awareness, death/loss, physical problems, parenting, money, the environment (natural disasters, property, culture, subculture, etc) and more. Some of these things are more commonly referred to as “stressors”. Most of these things, sadly, not only don’t have “manuals” or blueprints, but we often get little instruction or direction about. As a result, navigating such can be daunting and difficult.
These are all reasons people come to see a therapist, when they effect our relationship with ourselves (something not everyone considers), and other people. While some of these concerns might require the services of other folk (accountants, career counselors, physicians), the “coping skills”, problem-solving (of some of these issues) and feelings about them are the focus of therapists and other mental health professionals.
As for Diagnoses…
“Mood and/or Affective Disorders”, or, Feeling Problems
Will not be covering them all here of course, and, oversimplifying, these are the most commonly diagnosed and treated problems. Depression, anxiety/panic, bipolar disorder (AKA the once and former “manic depression”), and other problems.
Depression: the Most Diagnosed Mental Health Issue
Summary/oversimplified version:
When one feels (emotionally speaking) “sad/blue/down” for a period of time, that may be an indication. It may or may show up for us in the presence of identifiable circumstances, sometimes not. Often, we lose interest in things that we used to do and enjoy. Our self esteem or self worth may be diminished. Sleeping and eating habits may become unhealthy. We may pick up other behaviors that are not healthy for us. Occasionally, there may be real, or even perceived physical problems that might be related to being depressed. These may show up differently for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors.
