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Saturday, April 14, 2012

Information on TBI & OCD

Okay so after doing some research it has come to my attention that it seems that most mental illness can be related to one another. So here is some research on OCD and why you can have loss of memory or (after research a new medical term I learned) TBI after a car accident. Please feel free to follow the links for there is more information there than what I have copied for you to read and hope to help you understand.

So as of now I am probably going to the hospital again for the fluid on my lung, I am having a hard time breathing. You know as well as I do that I won't be able to keep us informed if I don't breath. So I will be back soon, maybe not tomorrow but soon. Wish me luck, and maybe they can tell me what is causing it as I was just there a few weeks ago and the drained it and sent it in to find out what it is from!


Amnesia (from Greek Ἀμνησία) is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into certain categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia. Functional causes are psychological factors, such as mental disorder, post-traumatic stress or, in psychoanalytic terms, defence mechanisms. Amnesia may also appear as spontaneous episodes, in the case of transient global amnesia.[1]
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological pattern, potentially reflected in behavior, that is generally associated with distress or disability, and which is not considered part of normal development of a person's culture. Mental disorders are generally defined by a combination of how a person feels, acts, thinks or perceives. This may be associated with particular regions or functions of the brain or rest of the nervous system, often in a social context. The recognition and understanding of mental health conditions have changed over time and across cultures, and there are still variations in definition, assessment and classification, although standard guideline criteria are widely used. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over a third of people in most countries report problems at some time in their life which meet criteria for diagnosis of one or more of the common types of mental disorder.[1]
The causes of mental disorders are varied and in some cases unclear, and theories may incorporate findings from a range of fields. Services are based in psychiatric hospitals or in the community, and assessments are carried out by psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and clinical social workers, using various methods but often relying on observation and questioning. Clinical treatments are provided by various mental health professionals. Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are two major treatment options, as are social interventions, peer support and self-help. In a minority of cases there might be involuntary detention or involuntary treatment, where legislation allows. Stigma and discrimination can add to the suffering and disability associated with mental disorders (or with being diagnosed or judged as having a mental disorder), leading to various social movements attempting to increase understanding and challenge social exclusion. Prevention is now appearing in some mental health strategies.

What Exactly is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
Here's a formal definition adopted by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIA) Board of Directors in 1986:
 "Traumatic brain injury is an insult to the brain, not of a degenerative or congenital nature but caused by an external physical force, that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It can also result in the disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning. These impairments may be either temporary or permanent and cause partial or total functional disability or psychosocial maladjustment."
As the name suggests, and as this definition states, a TBI is an injury to the brain that results from an external force, or trauma, to the head. In other words, it's a head injury that causes damage to the brain. The "external force" can be a direct blow to the head such as hitting the floor in a fall accident or striking the steering wheel in a car accident. Even though the skull is not penetrated or fractured, the force can cause the brain to be injured in a number of ways. Or, the "external force" can be a rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head that shakes or rotates the brain. Examples of this are whiplash in a car accident or Shaken Baby Syndrome. As the BIA definition states, the "external force" damages the tissues and cells of the brain causing temporary or permanent impairment in the cognitive, emotional and physical abilities of an individual.
Emotional symptoms can include . . .
  • increased anxiety.
  • depression and mood swings.
  • impulsive behavior.
  • more easily agitated.
  • egocentric behaviors, difficulty seeing how behaviors can affect others.
If you have any of these symptoms after a whiplash injury, especially if they persist for more than a few days, you should be evaluated to see if you have a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). While they experience the same symptoms as a normal adult, children and seniors present unique symptoms and diagnostic problems.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a type of anxiety disorder, is a potentially disabling illness that traps people in endless cycles of repetitive thoughts and behaviors. People with OCD are plagued by recurring and distressing thoughts, fears, or images (obsessions) they cannot control. The anxiety (nervousness) produced by these thoughts leads to an urgent need to perform certain rituals or routines (compulsions). The compulsive rituals are performed in an attempt to prevent the obsessive thoughts or make them go away.
Although the ritual may temporarily alleviate anxiety, the person must perform the ritual again when the obsessive thoughts return. This OCD cycle can progress to the point of taking up hours of the person's day and significantly interfering with normal activities. People with OCD may be aware that their obsessions and compulsions are senseless or unrealistic, but they cannot stop them.
obsessions and compulsions, may vary. Common obsessions include:
  • Fear of dirt or contamination by germs.
  • Fear of causing harm to another.
  • Fear of making a mistake.
  • Fear of being embarrassed or behaving in a socially unacceptable manner.
  • Fear of thinking evil or sinful thoughts.
  • Need for order, symmetry, or exactness.
  • Excessive doubt and the need for constant reassurance.
Common compulsions include:
  • Repeatedly bathing, showering, or washing hands.
  • Refusing to shake hands or touch doorknobs.
  • Repeatedly checking things, such as locks or stoves.
  • Constant counting, mentally or aloud, while performing routine tasks.
  • Constantly arranging things in a certain way.
  • Eating foods in a specific order.
  • Being stuck on words, images or thoughts, usually disturbing, that won't go away and can interfere with sleep.
  • Repeating specific words, phrases, or prayers.
  • Needing to perform tasks a certain number of times.
  • Collecting or hoarding items with no apparent value.


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