PSYCHOLOGICAL STANCE

A Closer Look:

Mental Illness and Domestic Violence

Mental Health disorders face a lot of stigma in society. Historically, indiduals struggling with these disorders have been isolated, rejected, and/or even institutionalized. Often, this reality instills fear in the individual; fear of being honest about the disorder, fear of being sent away, fear of being judged. Tawnysha Green's A House Made of Stars is a prime example of this fear. She captures not only the extent of mental illness but also the repurcussions of avoiding treatment over time.

The narrator's father (called Daddy throughout the novel) demonstrates sypmptoms of mental illness. Although his diagnosis is unclear, his behavior reflects manic bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time. Bipolar disorder symptoms can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide.

Scientists are studying the possible causes of bipolar disorder. Most scientists agree that there is no single cause. Rather, many factors likely act together to produce the illness or increase risk.Bipolar disorder tends to run in families. Some research has suggested that people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder than others. Children with a parent or sibling who has bipolar disorder are much more likely to develop the illness, compared with children who do not have a family history of bipolar disorder. However, most children with a family history of bipolar disorder will not develop the illness.

Some imaging studies show how the brains of people with bipolar disorder may differ from the brains of healthy people or people with other mental disorders. For example, one study using MRI found that the pattern of brain development in children with bipolar disorder was similar to that in children with "multi-dimensional impairment," a disorder that causes symptoms that overlap somewhat with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. This suggests that the common pattern of brain development may be linked to general risk for unstable moods.

People with bipolar disorder experience unusually intense emotional states that occur in distinct periods called "mood episodes." Each mood episode represents a drastic change from a person’s usual mood and behavior. An overly joyful or overexcited state is called a manic episode, and an extremely sad or hopeless state is called a depressive episode. Sometimes, a mood episode includes symptoms of both mania and depression. This is called a mixed state. People with bipolar disorder also may be explosive and irritable during a mood episode.

Bipolar disorder can be present even when mood swings are less extreme. For example, some people with bipolar disorder experience hypomania, a less severe form of mania. During a hypomanic episode, you may feel very good, be highly productive, and function well. You may not feel that anything is wrong, but family and friends may recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder. Without proper treatment, people with hypomania may develop severe mania or depression.

Bipolar disorder may also be present in a mixed state, in which you might experience both mania and depression at the same time. During a mixed state, you might feel very agitated, have trouble sleeping, experience major changes in appetite, and have suicidal thoughts. People in a mixed state may feel very sad or hopeless while at the same time feel extremely energized.

Bipolar disorder cannot be cured, but it can be treated effectively over the long-term. Proper treatment helps many people with bipolar disorder—even those with the most severe forms of the illness—gain better control of their mood swings and related symptoms. But because it is a lifelong illness, long-term, continuous treatment is needed to control symptoms.

Unfortunately, some mental health disorders, such as this one, comorbid with domestic abuse. As demonstrated in this novel, domestic violence occurs way too often and victimizes entirely too many families.

Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, income, or other factors.Women and men can be victims of domestic violence.

No victim is to blame for any occurrence of domestic abuse or violence. While there is no direct cause or explanation why domestic violence happens, it is caused by the abuser or perpetrator.

Domestic violence is the third leading cause of homelessness among families. More than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes every year. Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence also suffer abuse or neglect at high rates (30% to 60%).Children exposed to domestic violence at home are more likely to have health problems, including becoming sick more often, having frequent headaches or stomachaches, and being more tired and lethargic. Children are more likely to intervene when they witness severe violence against a parent – which can place a child at great risk for injury or even death.

Domestic violence victims face high rates of depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety, flashbacks, and other emotional distress. Domestic violence contributes to poor health for many survivors including chronic conditions such as heart disease or gastrointestinal disorders.

Without help, girls who witness domestic violence are more vulnerable to abuse as teens and adults.

Without help, boys who witness domestic violence are far more likely to become abusers of their partners and/or children as adults, thus continuing the cycle of violence in the next generation.

If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of domestic abuse, there are many ways to help:

Get educated, understand the relevance and consequences of ignoring

Also, in the event of an emergency, there are various, anonymous hotlines available 24/7

****Call 800.621.HOPE (4673)

Not suprisingly, data supports that domestic abuse is more likely to occur to individuals with physical or emotional disabilities..

The presence of maltreatment, including neglect and physical and sexual abuse, is more than 25 percent higher among deaf and hard-of-hearing children than among hearing youths.

Seventy-seven percent of deaf and hard-of-hearing respondents indicated experiencing some form of child maltreatment, compared with 49 percent among hearing respondents. In addition, respondents with more severe hearing loss indicated an increased rate and severity of maltreatment.

Data also supports that deaf and hard-of-hearing respondents who had suffered maltreatment had higher rates of negative cognitions about themselves, others and the future compared with hearing individuals who had suffered maltreatment. The rate of depression and post-traumatic stress is also higher among all deaf and hard-of-hearing respondents regardless of maltreatment.

Unfortunately, the level of vulnerability increases involuntarily in individuas with a disability. In this case, help is moe neccesary. As mentioned previously, take the intitiative to get educated on the facts and never hesiate to call for help.