Difficulties in Disorders Essay

Submitted By bell5713
Words: 1457
Pages: 6
Open Document
Dissociative and somatoform disorders are somewhat similar and can be triggered by high anxiety and used as a coping method. Mood disorders, somewhat different, are usually the cause of chemical imbalances in neurotransmitters, but can also be related to high stress, genetics, and possibly environment. Treatment for these disorders will vary based on the therapist, may be long and painful, but can be successful.

The psychodynamic view for dissociative identity disorders believe that the patient creates another identity to either cope with the anxiety or to express the undesirable impulses. In the cases of dissociative amnesia and/or fugue, the patient disconnects and the “ego protects itself from anxiety by blotting out disturbing memories or by dissociating threatening impulses of a sexual or aggressive nature” (Nevid, Rathus, & Greene, 2011, p. 221). Social-cognitive theorists believe dissociative disorders to be a form of role-playing as a way of coping with traumatic events that have occurred and that it is a learned response involving distancing or separating themselves from the “disturbing memories or emotions” (Nevid, Rathus, & Greene, 2011, p. 222).

Psychotherapy is the most common approach to treating those with dissociative disorders. This type of therapy will help the patient talk through the related issues and come up with different ways of coping with the anxiety or stress that has caused the disorder. Part of the psychotherapy may include hypnosis to help uncover the trauma that triggered the dissociative disorder. With cognitive therapy, the therapist will work with the patient to help them alter their thoughts and beliefs from a negative perspective to a positive perspective. Both of these types of therapy will be extremely difficult because it may take a long time to uncover the actual cause and the patient may become too impatient, or the pain may be too much for them to bear, to keep up with the treatment. Biological treatment or medication for dissociative disorders are not used to specifically treat the dissociative disorder, but may be prescribed to treat the depression or anxiety associated with the disorder (Gluck, 2008). Because some dissociative disorders, such as amnesia and fugue may be short lived or come and go quickly, this could also cause difficulty in treatment. These types of dissociative disorders usually happen during times of stress, anxiety, or depression. In these cases, treatment usually focuses on “managing the anxiety or depression” (Nevid, Rathus, & Greene, 2011, p. 222).

The individual repressing the internal conflict and it surfacing in a physical ailment causes somatoform disorders in the psychodynamic view. An example of this would be the World War II bomber pilot that “suffered from night blindness that prevented them from carrying out dangerous nighttime missions” (Nevid, Rathus, & Greene, 2011, p. 235). The psychodynamic view of the pilot is that the pilot is feeling guilty about harming other humans, thus suffers from night blindness. It also achieves removing the pilot from a dangerous situation. Learning theorists look at somatoform disorders as a way of avoiding responsibility and gaining sympathy and attention of others. Cognitive theorists see somatoform disorders as a diversion. They believe that those that suffer from somatoform disorders are diverting attention to physical ailments and avoiding the actual life problems causing the disorder.

The psychoanalytical approach to treating somatoform disorders looks to bring the unconscious thoughts into the conscious, and once the “conflict is aired and worked through, the symptom is no longer needed and should disappear “(Nevid, Rathus, & Greene, 2011, p. 236). The behavioral approach looks to removing the reinforcement or the enablers of the behavior. They believe that those close to the patient have the mindset that the patient is not capable of handling responsibilities, stress, and/or anxiety, so
Show More

Related Documents: Difficulties in Disorders Essay

Social Communication Disorder (SCD)

Diagnosis Social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SCD) is one of the DSM-5 neurodevelopmental disorders. It is primarily characterized by impairment (pragmatics), which is the area of linguistics that has to do with how meaning is created and understood in verbal and nonverbal interactions. Some symptoms that individuals with SCD experience include a delayed language development, communication patterns appear to be rude and inconsiderate to others, difficulty understanding the main point of a question…

Words 755 - Pages 4

Essentials Of Communication Disorders: Challenges In Communication

According to Fogle (2013), in the book “Essentials of Communication Disorders”, communication is “any means by which individuals relate their wants, needs, thoughts, knowledge, and feelings to another person”. Communication occurs through various modalities, which influence the capability to communicate with each other. They include verbal, non-verbal and paralinguistic processes. However, some people experience difficulties in communication and as a result, they cannot convey or receive verbal…

Words 1118 - Pages 5

What Was Life Like Before The Abuse?

of psychic trauma has characteristic signs. One-Episode Trauma / Type I post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Usually retain detailed memories of the event for a long time. Unlike regular memories, these are uncontrollable; they intrude into their day-to-day activities and can interfere with play, school, and family life. Nightmare are also common among children with post-traumatic stress disorder Recollections of the traumatic event that occur during waking hours and intrude into the child’s…

Words 774 - Pages 4

Conversion Disorder Research Paper

Conversion Disorder Conversion disorder is a very rare mental illness. Conversion disorder is a somatoform disorder, or a psychological disorder in which the symptoms take a bodily form without apparent physical cause. The DSM-IV-TR defines conversion disorder as a mental disorder whose central feature is the appearance of symptoms affecting the patients senses or voluntary movements that suggest a neurological or general medical disease or condition. In simpler terms, conversion disorder is anxiety…

Words 445 - Pages 2

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Needs module, the aim of this essay is to critically discuss Autistic Spectrum Disorder within an Early Years preschool setting. This essay will give a brief overview of what is Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Throughout the essay it will identify and critically discuss the strengths and needs of a child within the setting. The essay will examine the implications the child attending the facility. Autistic spectrum disorder is neurodevelopment which are put into a persistent category. This is characterised…

Words 1563 - Pages 7

Endocrine System Chap 18 Essay

following is NOT a function of a hormone? Regulates chemical composition and volume of the internal environment Regulates metabolism Regulates glandular secretions Produces electrolytes Controls growth and development Answer: d Difficulty: Easy Learning Objective 1: 18.1 Compare control of body functions by the nervous system and endocrine system. Section Reference 1: 18.1 Comparison of Control by the Nervous and Endocrine Systems 2) When a hormone is present in excessive…

Words 5557 - Pages 23

Emily Studebaker Rhetorical Analysis

supervision has a focus on treating individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Emily Studebaker focuses on working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder through pragmatic language groups, articulation and phonology groups, Preschool screening team, and the Preschool language program. According to research, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder have a hard time literal problem solving, understanding the “hidden curriculum”, and difficulty with non-literal language. For example, if someone…

Words 282 - Pages 2

Essay on Edsp Study Guide

behavioral disorders? * Emotionally Disturbed (ED) * Disabilities Education Act’s definition – children who have difficulty making or maintaining interpersonal relationships, have deficits in learning that are not explained by sensory, intellectual or health factors, and have inappropriate behavior or feelings under normal circumstances * Pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression, and/or the tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with school * Includes disorders such…

Words 4026 - Pages 17

Autism Spectrum Disorder Essay

Autism Spectrum Disorder Danielle Becker March 23, 2015 Naugatuck Valley Community College One in 1000 children in America is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, with greater prevalence among boys (Tower, 2013). The Autism Spectrum Disorder, also known as ASD, are characterized by the difficulties with social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder also have difficulty understanding and using the rules…

Words 1526 - Pages 7

Dyspraxia Research Paper

they have a learning disability because, it all came down to how they learned to deal with that disorder and, or, figure out the one way that helps them most cope with it. According to the European Journal of Psychology of Education states, “One in five students have some kind of learning disability” (Macher, 2012). These students with learning disabilities go on…

Words 1319 - Pages 6