fandomhigh | Psych 101 (Thursday, (02/23/2006, 5th Period)

"Today we're going to be talking about abnormal psych. In other words, it's the study of people who are unable to adapt and function in everyday society. There are a bunch of different factors, including genetics, physical condition, learning and reasoning skills, and socialization. Clinical psych is the specific term for the treatment of people with psychological disorders.

Right now, those are classified in a giant reference volume called the 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual' put out by the American Psychiatric Association.

There are a bunch, so check out this handout and we'll talk about some of the more prevalent or interesting psychological disorders." ~~Like paranoid schizophrenia, which, funny enough, seems to be exhibited by Jaye Tyler. If only I knew that.~~

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OOC: Sorry for the lack of content. Discussion per normal, but I was off work yesterday and therefore my workload today was doubled, so the lecture is scanty.

{{OOC: OCD comment threads ~~going up shortly~~ are up.}}

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"It's generally considered an anxiety disorder," said Jenny. "It's very normal as a response to traumatic events, actually. And hey, if you want someone to talk traumatic events?" She raised her hand halfway and smiled wryly. "I'm your gal."

Elizabeth tilted her head curiously at the teacher. "How is it diagnosed? I mean, I know what the symptoms are, but what separates it from just general anxiety and things?"

"Generally, someone suffering from a disorder exhibits multiple symptoms consistently over a long period of time," said Jenny. "So, with post-traumatic stress disorder, you're potentially talking flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks, emotional dissociation, an excessive startle response, possibly hypervigilance. And any of those symptoms can be set off by a triggering incident--in other words, a situation that would remind the individual of the traumatic event."

"So it can affect you years after the original event if there's a trigger?"

Jenny nodded. "Definitely," she said. "That would be one of the hallmarks of the condition, actually. For example, veterans of wars will be sent into a flashback at the sound of a car backfiring due to its similarity to a gun going off."

Elizabeth nodded slowly. "What if you had treatment for it at the time? Will that stop it coming back?"

"It depends." Jenny frowned. "If you have another traumatic event, it can certainly result in renewed post-traumatic stress disorder. And while it's possible to get rid of the effect of trauma for good, it's also possible for it to resurface in times of stress."

"But the different traumatic event would require a different trigger, right? So, if the first trauma was, say," Elizabeth hesitated for a moment. "Um, a war zone and the second was more personal," Like being held hostage, a gun held to your head and being told that you're about to die "Then would it be different?"

"Sometimes triggering events can get confused," said Jenny. "Say, if they're similar. Or even sometimes if they're completely different events, but they have the same emotional resonance for the person affected. It's all very intensely personal, y'know?"

For example, Jenny's heart sped up every time she heard glass shattering. Funny, that.

Elizabeth nodded. "Yeah," she said, lowering her eyes to the handout once more.

Psych 101 (Thursday, (02/23/2006, 5th Period)

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Abnormal Psychology

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Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Abnormal Psychology

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Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Abnormal Psychology

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Abnormal Psychology

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Abnormal Psychology