There are a lot of reasons why people engage in psychotherapy. The most common reason for this is extreme depression. While it is true that every person encounters different problems of their own, there are people who are having difficulties handling the problems that hound them. This just means that from time to time, there are people who would be needing professional help to get them back on the right track.

There are a couple of formats that psychotherapists follow and a patient has the right to choose which one may possibly be the best choice.

Individual Therapy is a type of therapy wherein there is a one-on-one conversation between the patient and the therapist. This allows the patient to have the full attention of the therapist but it does not allow the therapist to assess the patient based on his social or family relationships.

Family therapy is a type of therapy that involves the family as a group.

Group therapy involves around 3- 15 patients. It gives the patients the opportunity to receive support from people with particular issues. The good thing about this type of therapy is that it may be less expensive and it gives the patients the feeling of belongingness.

Couple’s Therapy is geared towards the betterment of married couples or those who are in a significant other type of relationship who wants to improve their relationship and functioning as a couple.

Depression is a psychological disorder that brings the person with extreme negative thoughts. Sometimes, when an individual can no longer cope with this state, he or she is most likely to commit suicide, making depression the number cause of it. So what causes someone to be in this state?

1. loss of a loved one

2. failed relationships

3. inability to reach the goal

4.  verbal, sexual, or physicalabuse

5. inability to cope with the problems well

Surpassing an emotional and mental burden gives harmony and even serenity towards one’s well-being. It can even be regarded as fulfillment or victory. But what if the means of this so called victory is death? Does it really count as a fulfillment?

As moral issues flood your thoughts, the essence of suicide can be very devastating, not to the one who committed it, but those who are to absorb the impact of this action.

1. Grief. It is not just loneliness or misery. It is the pain of loss that hits an individual who is not prepared with death. It can be long-term, causing the person to be quite frustrated.

2. Questions. Or rather, questions that will no longer be answered. Sometimes, there aren’t any notes that are left to their significant others – messages that might hint to the cause of their problem, and even when that person is already gone, it might still give a way to fix it.

3. Depression. Yes, those who are grieving may develop depression because of their loved one’s suicide. Being clueless about the problems, the inability to help, the frustration of not saving the person may trigger an extreme negative emotion to the one who is left behind.

Suicide has been a cause of death that gives alarm not just to the government, but to the grieving beloved as well. It leaves misery and unsolved conflicts where the ones who were left will no longer be able to fix. Across the globe, there are many cases of suicides that are not recorded, and if there are any, it is more likely that only a small part of it is stated.

As many are left puzzled with the real causes of suicide, there are still possible causes of it, as those who are believed by their loved ones or as contended by their personal letters or journals.

Depression. The number cause of suicide. Many experts believe that this psychological disorder can contribute to an individual’s suicide. An extreme feeling of worthlessness or any negative emotions can bring people to commit suicide, by simply thinking that they do not deserve to live, that no one will miss them once they are gone or nobody loves them.

Unsolved conflicts. People who have suicidal tendencies may think that death may be the only way to escape their issues. And even people who don’t even have the capacity to commit suicide may find this also as an escape or the solution to get away from their problems.

Financial problems. Believe this or not, there are records of suicide which states that monetary issue is the cause of such an act. There is one case where a student committed suicide because he could no longer afford to study. It might be shallow for some, but there really are people who are desperate enough to end their lives because of this.

How does an abuse affect someone?

* Leaves the person in agony for some time

* It can lead to depression and other psychological disroder

* Affects his/her performance at work or interaction with people

* When a person finds it quite difficult to move on, it can cause him/her to become a psychologically cripple

* It can cause a loss of self-worth and self-esteem

In New Zealand, 51% of the girls have more issues than lost dolls, lack of candies in their pockets, and bullies. And unfortunately, most of their problems start inside their home…. because these girls are sexually abused even before they understand the meaning of sex….

23% of girls in the city and 28% in the remote areas are abused by their relatives….. and devastatingly, they are nit even reaching 15 years of age. A study done by Auckland University states that most of the victims are nine years old while the rapists, who are usually their male relatives, are 30.

This horrible fact should be provided with solutions, therapies, and prevention establishments before the victims acquire depression and other psychological problems.

Read the entire story in:

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1413619

There are at least 200,000 drug users residing in Africa….. and for all we know, they can just be children….

Just like in other nations, Africa faces drub problems as one of its major issues. And now that drug trafficking are done in schools, it is more likely that children are exposed to such substance. When this happens, accidents, violence, youth depression, and suicide might take place, affecting and even ruining their future.

Deputy Minister of Social Development Dr. Jean Swanson-Jacobs proposed a medium that can capture the attention of the youth and effectively convince them the dangers of drugs. Using hip hop music as a tool for the campaign of the department named, “Ke Moja, No Thanks, I’m Fine without Drugs.”

To read the entire story, check:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200710220588.html

After writing my blog about further cultivation of my knowledge that surrounds depression, it occurs to me that clinical depression and the one I previously wrote about, Depressive Personality Disorder, has some similarities. In fact, they share similarities so big that it’s difficult to separate them.

As this question tickles my curiosity more, I get more extensive to satisfy my curiosity and interest. And getting deeper, there are some differences that should be cleared, before anyone gets confused as to how they can be distinguished.

1. Depression has a wider scope of psychological effects. Depression gives the patient strong negativity in all aspects of his life – physical, social, mental, spiritual, and moral. He/She has a derogatory feeling over everything about his/her life.

2. Depressive Personality Disorder doesn’t have cause of negative feeling. Unlike depression that has causes like low amount of serotonin in the body or unsolved issues in life, Depressive Personality Disorder doesn’t have its known cause, but rather, it comes from one’s self without any solid explanations. It is only an individual’s normal reaction and common way of coping with things that make him/her qualified with such disorder.

Important matters as these should be taken into consideration to fully understand their nature. While Depression has a larger influence on one’s well-being, Depressive Personality Disorder shouldn’t be taken for granted, for it can sacrifice one’s happiness when this is not changed.

Okay. You are depressed. You are willing to take prozac if your doctor prescribes it and you determined to undergo a psychotherapy for the betterment of your well-being. You have your wallet ready for spending some bucks and arrange your schedule for your sessions. But wait, those are not the kind of preparations that you should really do…. because there are more important things that you should prepare….

1. Opening yourself up. Once you decide that you will undergo such therapy, you should consider that you are going to open up to someone you don’t know. Your shrink, despite his/her profession, is still a stranger, and if you have “trust issues,” you better let go of them, for it will be pointless if you are not letting out all of your burden.

2. Getting back to those moments. Once you and your psychologist starts to talk about your life, you are going to look back some of the painful days that you once had – even the most devastating ones. There can be tears and anger, but you need to release it too by telling your shrink everything about it.

3. Cooperation. Your shrink might give you a series of tasks that you need to do. When this takes place, you have to follow his/her instructions and cooperate.

Once the essence of these things have sunk in, it means that you really are ready for psychotherapy. However, bear in mind that it may take time for recovery and healing process. And when this is all done, you’d be someone you never thought you’d be.

Though people are quite conscious of their depressed condition, they tend to deprive themselves with therapy because of stereotypical matter. Those who ado not understand the real purpose of therapy think that those who undergo it are already schizophrenics. It’s a lame judgment, but surprisingly, it affects depressed individuals.

First off, it is never shameful to undergo a psychotherapy. Even though the mentally-individuals go through such therapy, it never means that you are one of them when you decide to see a professional. There are some psychological problems that need to be solved, and definitely, that is something normal.

On the other hand, if, in case, you are not convinced with simple yet straight statements, here are some things you ought to know when psychotherapy is being conducted…. just to let you know that it is something you shouldn’t be doubting….

1. A confidential talk between you and your psychologist. What you discuss inside the room is strictly between you and your shrink. It will never be revealed to anyone else – even to your most trusted loved-one – because it is against their code of ethics. Confidentiality is a major matter among the psychologists, vowing to keep everything between them and their patients.

2. An overview of your personal background. Once you start giving them your trust and begin your psychotherapy, your shrink will start to ask you series of questions, some things about you – certain points in your past like childhood and adolescence, major events in life, devastating arguments, accomplishments, and the like. When these are answered, you psychologist will deduce your condition and later, will focus on the things you should work on.

3. Continuous session. Just a day of talk between you and your doctor will definitely not finish your issues. It takes time in order to discuss your problems one by one and provide cures for them. Furthermore, you shrink needs to keep track on your current state – to see if improvements are already taking place.