This Week in Mental Health (Nov 5-9)

by Beth McHugh | More from this Blogger

08 Nov 2007 05:44 PM

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 assault. This is an unfortunate position for the victim to be in as they are so in need of love and support themselves. Yet they often deny themselves this help by not telling others in the belief that it will be harmful for others to hear about their experience.

This is such a common response after an assault that it is almost universal, yet the logic behind it is flawed. No matter how shocked a person is to hear about an assault, it is nothing compared to the physical and emotional harm caused to the victim themselves.

Not many of us would have any idea how to cope with a person who is going through a psychotic episode, so the article this week gives some pointers on how to deal with this bewildering and often frightening situation. As psychotic episodes are common to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and certain types of depression, it is not unlikely that one day we might have to deal with such a situation in regards to a friend, family member, or even a work colleague.

Finally, this week saw the commencement of a continuing series on street drugs, their effect on mental health, and most importantly, the symptoms of intoxication and overdose for each drug. In coming weeks, we will also look at talking to your teen about drugs.

Contact Beth McHugh for further information or assistance regarding this issue.

Related articles:

Sexual Assault Victims Protecting Others

The Guilt of Sexual Assault

Coping with Sexual Harassment and Assault (1)

Coping with Sexual Harassment and Assault (2)

Coping with Sexual Harassment and Assault (3)

Coping with Sexual Harassment and Assault (4)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: What causes it?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Diagnostic Criteria

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Treatment Options

Helping Your Friend or Family Member through a Psychotic Episode

Understanding Psychosis

Schizophrenia: Diagnostic symptoms

Symptoms of schizophrenia

The minefield of schizophrenia (1)

The minefield of schizophrenia (2)

Childhood schizophrenia

Schizophrenia and VCFS

Stimulant Drugs: How Much Do You Know?

Street Drugs and Mental Health

Diagnostic Criteria for Substance Dependence

Is It Really Substance Abuse?

The link between IQ, binge drinking, and hangovers

Childhood behavioral problems and binge drinking

When Usage Becomes Abusage: Recreational Drugs

When Substance Abuse becomes Substance Dependence

Amphetamines: What Do They Do?

Learn more about Beth McHugh

Beth McHugh began her career as a geologist and worked both in industry and as a university researcher.

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