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Psychology Articles

Sleep apnea and disturbing dreams.

Tuesday, April 8th, 2008

I suffer from sleep apnea and GERD, although not officially diagnosed; I recently retired from the military and there were "key words" missing from my out-process physical, so I cannot receive treatment from the VA for the sleep disporders or GERD. I frequently become so fatigued at work from lack of sleep that once home, I cannot recall my commute 'getting home'. I will wander in a dream-like state around the house until bedtime and not recall anything the next day. Perhaps unrelated, but also strange, is that if I lie on my left side, I have difficulty falling asleep but I sleep more soundly. And if on my right, I fall asleep quickly, but I snore greatly and my dreams are vividly bizarre and disturbing. ...  
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Monthly depression makes me desperate.

Saturday, March 1st, 2008

I've come to realize that once a month for about a week's time I become very depressed. It always falls in line with my menstrual cycle but is much stronger than your regular "PMS." During these times I have difficulty concentrating, find myself crying constantly for up to an hour, become very very angry for minimal reasons, have rather acute acne, and have very negative thoughts (of worthlessness, thinking that I'm ugly/stupid/worthless, etc.). Sometimes I injure myself (not cutting - slapping mainly) and/or think about ending my life. I think this has been a problem for me for many years, but now I think it's actually interfering with my ability to work (maybe it did before but I just didn't notice). I guess there ...  
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Insulin Resistance influences behavior.

Monday, January 28th, 2008

i am 15 and i fear something is wrong with me but my doctor has told me i do not have bipolar but i do have ADHD and insulin resistance.

when i was young my brothers and sisters were extremely mean to me. i was told i was adopted and they even printed out fake adoption papers. they told me they were going to kill me one day. i was told i was a mistake that i should have never been born.

now one moment i am extremly violent with some situations. one is my sister i see her or even hear her voice and i want to just literaly kill her but i wont because i know it is wrong instead i prey on her insuturies

...  
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my dad is turning into a dirty old man

Friday, November 2nd, 2007

My dad is 94 yrs old and has been losing his short term memory over the past 5 years. He had shown a few surprising personality changes including inappropriate, insulting comments to his remaining family and possibly others about my mother. My mother died over 20 year ago. At the moment, he seems to have given up repeating some of the more unpleasant comments. He is still very capable, living on his own and active but has always lived a solitary life by his own choice so consequently is quite lonely. He refuses to go to senior centres or the like, as he feel they are too old for him, and tries to strike up relationships with women much too young, 30 ...  
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We will lose everything if husband doesn’t get help!

Friday, September 7th, 2007

Q: My husband and I have been married for 30 years. When we first lived together he was attending a prestigious college on a full ride scholarship. He was taking a double major that his mother thought he could handle. At the time his parents' marriage was in a mess and family life was bad. Once we started sharing an apartment he would constantly watch "Looney Tunes" and put off any studies. I was concerned but he assured me that everything was fine until he flunked out of school. Surprising because his IQ is quite high but not shocking as he didn't have "mom's" constant enforcement.

He then got a position in a lucrative industry and for the past 28 years has traveled up the

...  
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What is the importance of separating the abused from the abuser?

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

Q: From the time I was 15-18, I was abused mentally and sexually by a very close adult mentor/friend. Aside from the abusive part, he was a great role model for me. I'm almost 20 now, and I have not spoken with him or seen him since I was 18. We both have received separate counseling, and I have accepted what happened, and he has expressed remorse and the both of us have been counseled to never have any contact or communication with each other. He seems to be on board with the idea, but I struggle with it. Why is it important to be completely separated, even years after the matter? Is it ever possible for the abused and the abuser to ever ...  
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Un-Happy Marriage

Sunday, July 29th, 2007

Q: I have been married for 4 years. I do not feel like I have a life partner, it is like we co-exist with each other. He goes his way in the house and I go mine. I know he has depression and takes medication but he stays in his room from the time he gets in from work and I stay in the den with the kids so we have no life together. He gets aggravated at times and we then argue about it.

I just don’t understand what’s going on. I don’t blame him for everything that is going on but I have no help. When I try and talk about it with him he said he sees no problems.

...  
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How can I help an elderly friend?

Sunday, July 29th, 2007

Q: I have a friend that is in her early 70's. She has a three bedroom house. She sleeps in her recliner because she cannot get into her bedrooms. She has a problem with saving everything. Her stove top is covered with papers, magazines, small boxes and just trash. I have tried to help her organize things but it seems like she just moves them from one place to another. Is this a mental disorder? She said that she didn't used to have this problem. I am worried about her and want to help if I can. Thank you. A: It certainly could be part of a mental illness. Hoarding can be a symptom of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), but given ...  
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My mom is bipolar and my dad is dyslexic.

Sunday, July 22nd, 2007

Q: My mom was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder last year and my dad has had Dyslexia since child hood. I am often the responsible adult in the house. My dad's family, in their own intrusive way tries to help. All they do is cause chaos. They upset my mom when she is manic or depressed (one time causing a suicide threat) and confuse my dad. I get stressed out and have panic attacks. I really have no one to go to. And every where I search I hit dead ends for a place of solace for children of bipolar parents. If you have any suggestions they would be much appreciated. A: I’m sorry that you have had to grow up fast and become so ...  
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I had a sexual realtionship with my psychologist and it has affected me more than I thought.

Sunday, June 3rd, 2007

Q: I have been searching for a good psychologist for a very long time, and finally found someone who I was able to open up to. When I was younger I was raped by a group of men who belonged to a cult, and several years after that two of them did it again. The events that led up to all of this was very hard for me to share with anyone, and when I finally did share it with my psychologist I felt very attracted to him. After being hospitalized for a suicide attempt, I continued seeing him and we soon started to do things other than therapy. He is 16 years older than me and married. I thought I ...  
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How do I find a therapist?

Tuesday, April 17th, 2007

I have recently had issues with my partner which indicate to me that I do not properly understand myself and my reaction to her when the issues arose, which has been bad for our relationship. I find myself acting in a very immature and destructive way about things I should now be able to deal with in life, such as personal time and space. I do not want to risk the relationship and would like to talk to someone professional but do not know how to go about finding good professional help, especially living in a developing country. A: This relationship must mean a great deal to you to be willing to work on yourself. Recognizing that you need to figure out your part rather than ...  
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Am I a candidate for therapy?

Saturday, January 27th, 2007

Q: I just took the quiz on PTSD and found that the person the quiz was describing, was me. I pretty much have ALL the symptoms, in fact, it made me cry to see how close my personality was compared to the symptoms. I also took the tests for Bipolar Disorder and found that I was moderate to severe. As well as the Manic disorder which was also moderate to severe. I was molested by my moms stepdad at age 7 for a few months while we lived with them. I have been moved around alot in my childhood by my mother. From living in our car to living in a homeless shelter. She's an alcoholic who can get violent ...  
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The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect springs.
-- Joan Didion