abnormal is the new normal.

[tetra_pakk]

Spent my entire day revising Abnormal Psychology today. Thanks to a friend (ahem) who was commenting on my status about the DSM-IV-TR, I have inspiration to write yet another rambling, cynical, pessimistic entry

Comments

[tetra_pakk]

It is certainly true that disorders often involve chemical imbalalances, that's why you have the SSRIs, MAOIs, tricyclics, benzodiazepines etc. But the trigger factors are usual social/environmental ones. Like with PTSD, I think it's actually one of the illnesses, IMO, that you can't really blame the patient for. I think there's a difference between the way psychiatrists and psychologists carry out therapies, at least from my experience. My psychiatrists are generally more assertive (not that they aren't nice, but relative to other doctors I've seen so far, they just are), but the psychologist is much kinder and more gentle.

I guess in Singapore it's good in the sense that we have a good healthcare system, but very few people actually go seek help on their own. I must admit that being a psych major probably saved my lfe, cos I knew exactly what was wrong even w/o the DSM, so I made my parents call up the hospital. The stigma thing is a pretty solid factor against allowing people to take initiative to see a therapist, which makes the situation of suicide worse.

I guess I'm grateful cos it wasn't very serious for me, but it was enough for me to really "wake up" to such issues and be even more sensitive to them than my classmates; plus there's a social side to it too, so it sort of works to my advantage (:

And I agree with the parenting part 100%. 上梁不正,下梁歪. Many disorders are not fully genetically inherited, there is also the socialization of the family. Which is sort of tragic, cos it means that the disease is likely to run in the family, no matter how hard you try to remove it. ):

Anyway, you're right, malingering does suck.

I ramble but can't do anything about it. Maybe one day I'll consolidate the relevant posts send a letter to the PAP. :p

[ext_1423085]

It's true the trigger factors are usually social/environmental, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. My mentor likens it to the straw that broke the camel's back. Is it the last straw's fault, or is it the other 999 straws that was already on the camel's back instead? People tend to focus on the last straw, but what psychotherapy strives to do is to either remove those 999 other straws, or strengthen the camel's back muscles, so that in future, 500 more straws won't break his back anymore.

But it's true that psychologists have a much kinder and gentler disposition and approach that psychiatrists. Doctors have a tendency to look for a quick fix, a cure, and they lack patience for long-term psychotherapy.

Not many patients are like you, with sufficient insight to seek help on their own (despite the stigma), which is really, to me, the most important prognostic factor in AN and MDD. I'm glad you're so much better now. Did you know, my cousin (Ng Zhi Yong) is a soci major too? And he asked me about you, said you're very enthusiastic in class and ask the lecturer a lot of questions.

Yay :)

[tetra_pakk]

WHAT hahahaha are you kidding what class was this! I only talk if I actually like the topic, or the prof/tutor. Otherwise I keep my mouth shut or I space out/daydream.

The straws on the camel's back. Nice analogy. Problem with me is that I 死背, and if it's worth rambling about, I ramble. Otherwise it goes out of my mind that moment the mod's over, except the more salient parts which earn themselves a permanent place in my LTM (:

Jiayou for psychiatry man and don't get disillusioned like me!! Glad that you're doing it for the right reasons, not the just prestige and stuff. (:

[ext_1423085]

Haha, I don't know, I can ask him again, but at grandma's house one day, he specifically asked me if I knew a Kuo Simin. XD Imagine my surprise, I thought he was going to tell me he liked you, haha.

Jiayou for your psychology paper today too (: