Posts

Psychoeducation Principles and Reflections

Psychoeducation is a broad term within psychiatric rehabilitation practice. As the Bond and Anderson article (2015) assert, the practice of psychoeducation can include just the individual with mental illness, just the family and/or caregivers, or a combination of the three. Additionally, psychoeducation can be done with groups or with individuals. There are many models, but in general, the content ranges from providing information about medication, to information about mental illness, and managing life and symptoms (Bond & Anderson, 2015). The article cited above conducted a meta-analysis of many different psychoeducation programs, and concluded that in general, groups of people who went through a program together tended to have better outcomes (e.g., fewer symptoms, fewer relapses) than if the individual practitioner conducted psychoeducation with an individual patient (Bond & Anderson, 2015). The second article available on Blackboard detailed a qualitative study done in
18 comments
Read more

6. Hyperbole: Identity Part One and Identity Part Two

Image
In these two chapters, Allie struggles with a number of deep thoughts about her identity and what it means for her overall worth. Racing thoughts / "ruminating" can be another symptom of depression...yet are they a sign of intelligence? What is your take on a person who thinks these things? Pathology? Intense self-reflection? Post your ideas and thoughts about these chapters on Allie's struggle with identity. Respond to at least one of your classmate's posts.
15 comments
Read more

5. Hyperbole: Thoughts and Feelings, The Party

Image
A. Throughout this chapter Allie becomes frustrated and irritable with seemingly little things in her environment. How is this behavior consistent with depression? What are some of the thoughts that struck you? B. In this chapter, Allie has a post-surgery plan to get to the birthday party. When she executes this plan, her mother does not understand her behavior. Was her behavior understandable? Why or why not? how might this situation have been handled differently?
10 comments
Read more

4. Hyperbole: This is Why I will never be an Adult

Image
Adulting is hard. Was there any part of this chapter that you found yourself identifying with? If so, describe.  What thoughts and behaviors in this chapter are consistent with depression? Answer these questions and reply to one post.
14 comments
Read more

3. Hyperbole: Depression Part One and Depression Part Two

Image
Here Allie Brosh writes regarding her own experience of depression. Choose one quote from pp. 99-156 that made a particular impression on you. Describe what the quote made you think, feel, or find insight into. Reply to one post.
12 comments
Read more

2. Hyperbole: The God of Cake

Image
In this chapter, a young child seems obsessed with eating a birthday cake that was made for someone else. First, she hounds her mother for it. When her mom puts it on the fridge, out of her reach, Allie climbs the fridge to get to it. Her mother then places the cake inside the fridge, and places a heavy box in front of the refrigerator door. Allie begins throwing herself against the box in order to move it to access the cake. She throws a tantrum once she arrives at her grandmother's house, and her mom tells her to play outside. Allie begins crying very loudly, right up against the glass. When her mother tells her to play on the side of the house, Allie finds a way into the bedroom where the cake is hidden, and manages to eat the entire cake. Her mother discovers what Allie has done, and then Allie spends the afternoon vomiting cake all over her grandmother's carpet. From an outsider's perspective, would someone think this child had behavioral or mental health issues?
14 comments
Read more

1. Hyperbole: Motivation

Image
"One of the most terrifying things that has ever happened to me was watching myself decide over and over again - thirty-five days in a row- to not return a movie I had rented. Every day, I saw it sitting there on the arm of my couch. And every day, I thought, I should really do something about that. ..and then I just didn't ." Allie Brosh. The subtitle of the book is "unfortunate situations, flawed coping mechanisms, mayhem, and other things that happened." Do you see her "motivation" as a flawed coping mechanism?  Is the negative self talk an attempt at coping with depressive symptoms? Why or why not? Reply to these questions, and to at least one of your classmate's posts.
13 comments
Read more