Having friends with same mental disorder

In your 20s a lot of extreme behavior can seem completely normal — the drinking, the partying, This illness, first listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III) in the 1980s, is surprisingly common. Unfortunately, the name "borderline personality disorder" is a bit of a misnomer (what is this border that the personality is crossing anyway?). BPD, which is marked by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships, can be extremely hard to pinpoint. It usually develops during adolescence or early adulthood (around age 18 through 25), and has been misunderstood and under-diagnosed. It is often confused with bipolar disorder as both conditions are characterized by unstable moods. However, with BPD mood changes happen in shorter intervals than bipolar disorder — a few hours or days, versus weeks and months. Harriet Williamson, a 24-year-old mental health ambassador, described in a video for the BBC what it is like to live with BPD: “ If you suspect a friend may be dealing with this, check out the list of symptoms below. If you notice that their pattern of behavior matches DSM-5they may have BPD. 1. Fear of Abandonment Drastic reactions to real or imagined abandonment is characteristic of people dealing with BPD. They may be panicky or depressed 2. Unstable Interpersonal Relationships A person with BPD will have very intense and fraught relationships with their family, friends, and loved ones. They 3. Unstable Self-Image Or Sense Of Se...

For instance, marital resemblance is positively correlated for personality, height and weight – so we have a positive tendency to marry people who are similar to us on these characteristics. Debate has raged for years around the influence of psychiatric disorders on relationships, and the genetic risks for offspring, but no one has ever collected data on such a large number of people. Partnering up The Swedish study had a number of key findings. First up, people with a psychiatric diagnosis were less likely to be married. When they did marry, the chance of them marrying someone else with a psychiatric diagnosis was two to three times higher than for people without a psychiatric diagnosis. There was also a correlation between specific diagnoses. People with disorders that developed at a young age, like autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, had a tendency to marry people with the same diagnosis. As did people with disorders that had particularly severe symptoms, such as schizophrenia. People with depression and generalised anxiety disorder were also more likely to partner with people with psychiatric disorders, but the correlation between diagnoses for these was lower. The results held for men and women. Similar correlations weren’t found for people with non-psychiatric medical disorders, such as Crohn’s disease, diabetes (types 1 and 2) and rheumatoid arthritis. People with these disorders showed little or no increase in the chances of being...

Having an imaginary friend, sometimes called an imaginary companion, is considered a normal and even healthy part of childhood play. Research on imaginary friends has been ongoing for decades, with doctors and parents alike wondering whether it’s healthy or “normal.” Most research has shown again and again that it’s typically a natural part of childhood for many children. Earlier research states as many as It’s not uncommon for children to create imaginary friends or companions — someone they can talk to, interact with, and play with. These pretend friends may take the form of anything: an invisible friend, an animal, something fantastical, or within an item, like a toy or stuffed animal. Most research has shown that having an imaginary friend is a healthy form of childhood play. Studies have even found there may be some benefits for development in those children who create imaginary companions. Benefits may include: • superior social cognition • more sociability • boosted creativity • better coping strategies • increased emotional understanding Imaginary friends may provide your child with friendship, support, entertainment, and more. While some parents may be concerned, it’s completely normal for a child to have an imaginary friend. Compared to children who don’t have an imaginary friend, children who do aren’t different in the following ways: • most personality traits • family structure • number of nonimaginary friends • experience in school In the past, experts believe...

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that can affect mood, behavior, and self-image. BPD is a type of The term borderline originally came into use when clinicians thought of the person as being on the border between having The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggest that around Historically, BPD has been difficult to treat. However, the NIMH say that new evidence-based treatments can reduce the symptoms and improve the person’s quality of life. This article provides an overview of BPD, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. Share on Pinterest Peter Dazeley/Getty Images BPD is a complex mental health condition characterized by difficulties with emotion and self-image, unstable personal relationships, and impulsive behaviors. BPD is a Common challenges in BPD include: • instability in relationships with others • intense emotions, such as anger and low mood • sudden shifts in self-image (regarding values or career plans, for example) • impulsive and damaging behaviors, which can include substance misuse or impulsive spending • self-harm and, for some people, suicidal thoughts or actions The way a person with BPD interacts with others is closely associated with their self-image and early social interactions. Almost In most cases, BPD begins in early adulthood. Clinicians will not usually diagnose it in children or adolescents, as their personality is still developing during these years. Symptoms that may look ...

4. Don’t say “calm down” or “cheer up.” It can be hard to know how to react when your friend is in the midst of an extreme manic or depressive episode, but platitudes such as these are sure only to antagonize. After all, if they could calm down or cheer up, they would. A better response is to ask how you can help, or suggest some things the two of you might do together, even something as simple as going outdoors for some air. When your friend is no longer in distress, talk to them about what might help next time and prepare strategies. 5. Be understanding when they are less of a friend than you need. Those with bipolar disorder are dealing with mood swings that can leave them irritable, overly sensitive, distracted, impulsive, and prone to explosive outbursts—all of which can be taken as a personal affront if you don’t understand its source. Try to show the same patience and understanding you would hope to receive if you were the one dealing with the illness. And remember that the frustration they feel is with the disorder, not with you. THE BASICS • • 8. Listen. Lend a sympathetic ear, and let them know you don’t expect them to put on a brave face. Ask how they are doing and truly listen. If they speak of 9. Don’t get angry if your friend stops taking their medicine. They may be dealing with a host of distressing side effects from the medication—sedation, weight gain, emotional blunting and They don’t need you to wag your finger. Your best hope for getting them back into ...

Author • Tamsyn Van Rheenen NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Disclosure statement Dr Van Rheenen receives funding from the NHMRC, Jack Brockhoff Foundation, University of Melbourne, Barbara Dicker Brain Sciences Foundation, Rebecca L Cooper Foundation and the Society of Mental Health Research. Partners It’s commonly accepted that symptoms in psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia present differently between different people. That is, one person with a given diagnosis can be entirely different, symptomatically speaking, from another with the same diagnosis. Traditionally in psychiatric research, all people with the same diagnosis would be grouped together and compared to those who are psychiatrically well, to look for differences on a given trait. This is problematic when variations of symptoms under one diagnosis are wide-ranging. Grouping together people who vary substantially on certain characteristics can blur our understanding about the causes of a disorder and hinder effective treatment. To remedy this, several research groups are conducting studies that will enable more targeted treatments that take this variability into account. Where we’re going wrong Currently, psychiatric diagnoses are made on the basis of subjective clinical observation. Symptoms that cluster together are identified as discrete categories of illness. Claire Danes’ character in Homeland’s symptoms of bipolar disorder are very diffe...