Search Results for: blog helping your friend or family member through a psychotic episode

Paranoid Personality Disorder: Peter’s Story

Peter is a typical sufferer of paranoid personality disorder (PPD) and finds it difficult to function in both the workplace and in his personal life. Because this condition affects the core personality of the sufferer, it is permanent, pervasive and, as such, the person so afflicted in effectively unaware that there is something wrong with them. As with most of the personality disorders, the sufferers have little insight into their own behaviors, instead blaming others for what is isn’t right in their lives. Peter was by his own admission in a bad situation. He believed his father to be mentally … Continue reading →

A Beautiful Mind (1991)

“A Beautiful Mind” is one of the most stunning and memorable films I’ve ever seen. It stars Russell Crowe as John Nash, the Nobel-winning mathematician. We go with John to Princeton and see him excel in his classes, although he is a little backward socially. As time goes by, he becomes a professor, and becomes entranced with a beautiful student named Alicia (Jennifer Connelly). She doesn’t know that he’s been asked by the government to help find coded messages in magazine ads—he has to keep that part of his life a secret so she won’t be in danger. She also … Continue reading →

This Week in Mental Health (Nov 5-9)

This week saw several topics covered including the guilt that accompanies sexual assault, and how to help your friend or family member through a psychotic episode. We also began an exciting new series on the effects of street drugs on mental health. Guilt is a specter that often hovers in the lives of survivors of rape and other forms of sexual assault. Yet in our article this week we looked not only at how guilt can stop a person moving forward from the assault but how victims will go to extreme lengths to protect significant others from hearing about their … Continue reading →

Helping Your Friend or Family Member through a Psychotic Episode

Watching a loved one go through psychosis is a heart-breaking process, especially for parents. Not knowing what to do compounds the problem and causes more stress, both for the sufferer and the family member alike. Knowledge is power and there are many things that family and friends can do to help. 1. Find out as much about psychosis as you can. Knowing the typical behavior patterns of a person going through a psychotic episode will assist you to recognize the early signs of the condition, seek earlier intervention, and develop your own set of coping skills to better deal with … Continue reading →