COUNSELOR'S CORNER: MENTAL HEALTH HUBS COLLECTION
71MENTAL ILLNESS TOUCHES MILLIONS ANNUALLY
WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS?
Actually, there are as many answers to that question as there are types of Mental Disorders. While research and knowledge related to mental illness have increased and expanded greatly since the 1960s, it is still a complex, confusing, and disabling problem, about which much still needs to be learned. While this site is not meant to be a source of personal counseling, it is here to provide an outlet, and non-judgmental interaction network for those who wish to share. I have grouped together some articles I have written on mental health related subjects, and hope you will come here often to read them, and share you comments with others who do the same.
I am first, and foremost, an Addictions Professional; however, many would agree those of us working within the Addiction Sciences, are constantly bombarded with clients who present with addiction problems as well as other adjustment issues. In fact, this phenomenon is so common, the phrase dually diagnosed has been created to deal with it. While I do not agree that mental illness necessarily exists initially in anyone later becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol, I would agree this is sometimes the case. It is also very true that if an individual uses drugs or alcohol in access for a long enough period of time, issues of a mental health nature will develop, as addiction is a brain disease that attacks the brain, and many of its functions.
Addiction is especially related to mental illness types involving Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. Such disorders cause dysfunctions very similar to addiction in nature, yet involving behaviors that do not involve any addictive substance other than the brain of the individual involved. Examples include compulsive gambling, obesity, sexual obsession, and obsession with Internet surfing, many of which are combined in a single individual. Such compulsions cause us to question what addiction actually is, and whether all things are not indeed capable of becoming addictive in nature.
There are also similarities between addictive behaviors and those involved in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as both are strongly related to associations and classical conditioning taking place in the individual involved. I invite you to bookmark this site, and visit it often, as updates will be added on a continuous basis.
Welcome to the Counselor's Corner. If you have subjects of a mental health nature you would like to see included on this site, please do not hesitate to contact me directly or through your comments. I thank you for visiting the Counselor's Corner, and hope the site serves you in some important manner. Please read the subtitles of the links below, and click the links below of those you wish to read. Be assured more will be added to this group, as time passes.
SELF ESTEEM ISSUES: HOW TO INCREASE YOUR SELF ESTEEM, AND STOP BEGGING FOR MERCY AND ACCEPTANCE FROM OTHERS:
ADDICTION LYRICS AND ALL THINGS ADDICTION:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/ADDICTION-LYRICS-LYRICS-ABOUT-ADDICTION
CYBER RAGE: THE INTERNET'S VERSION OF ROAD RAGE:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/CYBER-RAGE-THE-INTERNETS-VERSION-OF-ROAD-RAGE
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND ADDICTION: WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON:
PARANOID DELUSIONS: HOW COMMON ARE THEY?:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/PARANOID-DELUSIONS-ARE-COMMON-ARE-THEY
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER: SAD RESPONSE TO THE DARKNESS OF WINTER MONTHS:
RECESSION DIARIES: KEEPING HOPE ALIVE DURING RECESSIONARY TIMES:
DENIAL: TAKING IT TO THE MAX:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/DENIAL-TAKING-IT-TO-THE-MAX
AGING: GROWING OLDER IN A YOUNG WORLD:
DETOX FROM UNHEALTHY FOODS: BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, OR BOTH?:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/DETOX-FROM-UNHEALTHY-FOODS-BIOLOGICAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL-OR-BOTH
HOPE AND MOTIVATION: LAZY OR LACKING HOPE?:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/WHERE-HOPE-AND-MOTIVATION-MEET-LAZY-OR-LACKING-HOPE
RICH PEOPLE FEEL PAIN:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/RICH-PEOPLE-FEEL-PAIN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND ANIMALS:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE-AGAINST-WOMEN-CHILDREN-AND-ANIMALS
GRIEF: RUNNING ON EMPTY: A STORY OF GRIEF AND UNDESERVED MERCY:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/RUNNING-ON-EMPTY-A-STORY-OF-GRACE-AND-UNDESERVED-MERCY
RELATED ARTICLS & HUBS BY OTHER WRITERS:
SCOPOIAMINE: A RAPID RESPONDING ANTI-DEPRESSANT:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/Scopolamine-ARapidRespondingAntidepressant
EMOTIONS ANONYMOUS:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/Emotions-Anonymous
INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT PROCESS:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/Involuntary-Commitment-Process
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Thanks Mentalist, I agree that many people who become addicts have a pre-existing mental disorder, and begin using drugs to deal with the discomfort of this disorder; however, many people begin using drugs with only normal adolescent needs, such as to fit in with kids they believe are "cool," or curiosity about what being High would feel like. Once they begin using drugs, they develop the brain disease of addiction; however, many did not have a pre-existing mental illness prior to their addiction problem. Thanks again for your comment, which is a very true one in many cases.
Oops, I forgot to mention, Mentalist, that the hub titled ADDICTION LYRICS AND ALL THINGS ADDICTION, is listed on this site, keeping in line with your thinking on this. And yes, many do believe that addiction is an inherited brain disease passed down from your parents. There are definitely inherited componants to it, but much research still needs to be done. Like cancer, and heart disease, we have some control over our inherited genetics. We can never have so much as a social drink, if we have reason to believe we have an inherited brain disease, just as we can avoid certain foods if we inherited a tendency towards diabetes or cancer. (: v
nice hub valerie...... and I saw you as the featured hubber when I first brought up hubpages today. Congrats on that.
These are all your hubs? Are you going to link to other hubbers hubs about this subject as well? I wrote a few and I know some others have written some too.
Thank you Kim, I've been featured once before, but its always nice to get the attention as a writer, especially when I am writing about issues close to my own heart. Thank you so much for reading my writing and for commenting on my sites. (: v
Lady G, I might, depending on what the hubs are about. I have written all of these, but the thought of including other hubs I like has occurred to me. What hubs have you written on this subject? I'll have to check them out.
I might add hubs to this site written by other writers, describing personal experiences involving mental illness, their own, or that of a friend or family member. The hub would need to be well written gramatically, and flow smoothly. I probably will not include hubs written by other mental health professionals, as that is not the intent of this site. All comments are welcome here, as long as they are respectful, and appropriate.
Great Hub Valerie. Thank You for this informative article. So many of us have things we need to just take a look at, but it takes some work.
Thanks for responding to my hub, kowality. As the saying goes, "Denial is not a river in Egypt." LOL. We're all guilty, and May is mental health month.
Valerie, What a refreshing side of you. Your such a wonderful versatile person. I bet many with mental illness could learn a great deal about peace and understanding from your balance in healthy activities. I feel you really hit the nail on the head with lifestlye choices, isn't the mind like the body it sort of is what it eats...or is fed? Valerie I really enjoyed this mental health review it is fascinating. thanks and peace :)
Thank you katie, you always give me more credit than I deserve, but I love hearing it just the same. Thanks for commenting on my site.
Wonderful, informative and right on the money as alway. You amaze me Sister on all that you write about...
Blessings and Hugs
Valerie excellent collection on a subject o many want to steer clear of or even deny, an excellent resource.
Many thanks, Quill and billy, for responding to my humble sites. Billy, as the saying goes, "Denial is not a river in Egypt." LOL. Thanks again. Most grateful to all of my faithful responders.
Hi, valerie, this is a great idea. There are so many people out there who do need this help. After everything that went on in my life, my husband, then losing my mum and dad, I started to get panic attacks, ocd etc. And anything that can help is great for people going through this. thanks nell
Thanks Nell, I think it is important for people to realize how common this is, and not just something that happens to somebody else. Thanks for you comment. (: v
I used to work in a CD unit as a kind of para-professional counselor and have been recently diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's very very real. I have to manage symptoms on a daily basis. I know you would understand, Valerie! Great Hub.
Yes, GarnetBird, it is very very real. If you read my hub on Domestic Violence of Women, Children, and Animals, you know that I have also experienced PTSD. Thank you for commenting on my site. PTSD is very common to those suffering from any kind of abuse.
So sorry it took so long coming back here. I got the flu and then forgot who wanted what. The one that I am speaking of, if you deem it good for this, is Involuntary Commitment Process: http://hubpages.com/hub/Involuntary-Commitment-Pro
Hello again, Lady. So sorry you've been sick. I haven't decided if I am going to put hubs from other writers on here or not, but if I do they will probably be personal experiences with mental illness, or substance abuse. I might set up a section for other writers on here; haven't decided yet. It might actually be a way to increase traffic. Let me give it some thought. (: v
For the credit to go to you from other's hubs you go to the very bottom of the hub and there is a Link To This Page, in the light blue area. Click on that and it will give you a url with your id in it. Add a link page on your hub just as you would a text box on the right when you are maing your hub. Then click on edit on the top of the box and type or copy and paste them into the boxes provided. It will list the summary of the hub too for you.
Thanks Lady, I know how to use the link, and will set it up. Thanks again for your interest in my site. (: v
Oh I was talking about how to put your other sites in the link box, not mine.
Actually, that is how I put them all in there. I thought you wanted yours included, so I included it. I have been adding links using the share deal for a while. You did want yours on the site, didn't you? If so, it is there. If not, I can remove it. But I've been using the link thing to link all of my hubs to others, already. (: v
They are listed as links and not clickable as in words or the title. I see what is going on--when the link box comes up you are posting the link in there. There is a smaller box right under where it asks for the link in the window that it opens up. If you click there it gives you a list of all you hubs. Just click on the one that you want to use. Now I will link yours to mine in a few.
Thanks for the tech tip; I'll check it out, and see what you are talking about. Maybe it will be better and some type of improvement. Thanks. (: v
I see, Highlight the words of your choice and then go to the top of the text box where there is a link insert symbol. Click on that and then choose your hub.
lol, obviously, I am no tech giant, but I've come a long way since I discovered the Internet while in graduate school. (: v
thanks for linking :)v. There are other hubs on relapse prevention and thoughts, feelings, actions, and even rational living that might be of interest as well. Now that you've mastered the art of linking, feel free to link away!
Thanks Kimh, I am sure I will do just that. I actually have been linking for a long time, and don't know what made our friend above think I didn't know how. I thought she might have known something I didn't know, but am not sure that was the case. I've noticed some people do links that look like written sentences instead of links, but link when clicked. That is what I'd like to know how to do on here. Thanks again. (: v
That is what I was trying to tell you how to do.
Thanks Lady, I'll have to go back and read your instructions. I have difficulty with figuring out tech stuff via writing. I almost need someone sitting next to me, demonstrating each act. It took me forever to master getting googlesense added to my hubs, and I still haven't figured out how to do amazon, though I have tried to follow countless on line instructions as to how to do it. I usually learn computer tricks by accident. Strange, but true. (: v
Mentalist acer Level 6 Commenter 2 years ago
Addiction itself can relyably be considered a mental disorder,It's thought that people have an addictive disorder before they ever try drugs which leads to the term self medicating in the history of some of these patients which does not exclude the use of marijuana as a persistant and psycological crutch. valeriebelew,you have an excruciatingly hard occupation and you have my utmost empathy.