daesmith's Journal in June 2007
Page 1 of 1
|
| When I was born, a beautiful baby girl, my parents named me Aidli. When my Uncle Kamalrudin (Aunt Latifah’s husband) found out, he was unhappy. He didn’t like the name. He wanted to call me Shahira. Being nice and diplomatic, my Dad told my Uncle, if he agrees to be my Godfather, Uncle Kamalrudin could call me any name he wishes. So, Uncle Kamalrudin did just that! He paid my Dad a whole sum of 10 cents and ‘bought’ me as his daughter. But the name Shahira didn’t stick. He called me Lin, just like everyone in the family! That was more than 30 years ago… Just now, very early in the morning, around 5am, my niece Ernie sent me an SMS. Just a short SMS that shook me so violently! The SMS tells me that my Godpa has passed away… the man I loved like my own Dad, the man who was so proud of me when I graduated from Uni, the man who told me that I was right in the middle of the Kosovo controversy, the man who believed I should lead the tour group when we were stranded at the airport in Jeddah… my Godpa made me realize that I am my own person and a woman is worthy of respect! Today, he passed away peacefully, in his sleep and I’m trying my best to remember how he looked like through the years. I was at the funeral… Trying my best to be strong. I’m trying my best not to shed tears. He’d wanted me to be courageous and offer strength to his other children… my many, many cousins. That’s exactly what I did… I offered my arms, shoulders and chest for them to cry on. I held on to their bodies as they shook off their tears of sorrow and pain. The sorrow and pain of losing this Father we loved so dearly. But as they prayed and said their final goodbyes, as I watched the hundreds of people whose lives had been touched by his kindness and love, I can’t hold back my own tears. Gushing down my cheeks, in big, heavy droplets… I cried silently. Suddenly, I too died silently. I remembered what happened last Saturday. I died the day I lose the love of my sweetest… and finally, today, those tears are finally released, when I realized that maybe he’s never coming back to me at all… |
| *Delusional disorder, previously called paranoid disorder, is a type of serious mental illness called a "psychosis" in which a person cannot tell what is real from what is imagined. The main feature of this disorder is the presence of delusions, which are unshakable beliefs in something untrue. People with delusional disorder experience non-bizarre delusions, which involve situations that could occur in real life, such as being followed, poisoned, deceived, conspired against, or loved from a distance. These delusions usually involve the misinterpretation of perceptions or experiences. In reality, however, the situations are either not true at all or highly exaggerated. People with delusional disorder often can continue to socialize and function normally, apart from the subject of their delusion, and generally do not behave in an obviously odd or bizarre manner. This is unlike people with other psychotic disorders, who also might have delusions as a symptom of their disorder. In some cases, however, people with delusional disorder might become so preoccupied with their delusions that their lives are disrupted. Although delusions might be a symptom of more common disorders, such as schizophrenia, delusional disorder itself is rather rare. Delusional disorder most often occurs in middle to late life and is slightly more common in women than in men.* -TYPES OF DELUSIONAL DISORDER- There are different types of delusional disorder based on the main theme of the delusions experienced. The types of delusional disorder include: [EROTOMANIC: Someone with this type of delusional disorder believes that another person, often someone important or famous, is in love with him or her. The person might attempt to contact the object of the delusion, and stalking behavior is not uncommon.] [GRANDIOSE: A person with this type of delusional disorder has an over-inflated sense of worth, power, knowledge, or identity. The person might believe he or she has a great talent or has made an important discovery.] [JEALOUS: A person with this type of delusional disorder believes that his or her spouse or sexual partner is unfaithful.] [PERSECUTORY: People with this type of delusional disorder believe that they (or someone close to them) are being mistreated, or that someone is spying on them or planning to harm them. It is not uncommon for people with this type of delusional disorder to make repeated complaints to legal authorities.] [SOMATIC: A person with this type of delusional disorder believes that he or she has a physical defect or medical problem.] [MIXED: People with this type of delusional disorder have two or more of the types of delusions listed above.] - WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DELUSIONAL DISORDER?- The presence of non-bizarre delusions is the most obvious symptom of this disorder. Other symptoms that mighty appear include: “An irritable, angry, or low mood… Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not really there) that are related to the delusion (For example, a person who believes he or she has an odor problem may smell a bad odor.)” -WHAT CAUSES DELUSIONAL DISORDER?- As with many other psychotic disorders, the exact cause of delusional disorder is not yet known. Researchers are, however, looking at the role of various genetic, biological, and environmental or psychological factors. [GENETIC: The fact that delusional disorder is more common in people who have family members with delusional disorder or schizophrenia suggests there might be a genetic factor involved. It is believed that, as with other mental disorders, a tendency to develop delusional disorder might be passed on from parents to their children.] [BIOLOGICAL: Researchers are studying how abnormalities of certain areas of the brain might be involved in the development of delusional disorders. An imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, also has been linked to the formation of delusional symptoms. Neurotransmitters are substances that help nerve cells in the brain send messages to each other. An imbalance in these chemicals can interfere with the transmission of messages, leading to symptoms. ] [ENVIRONMENTAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL: Evidence suggests that delusional disorder can be triggered by stress. Alcohol and drug abuse also might contribute to the condition. People who tend to be isolated, such as immigrants or those with poor sight and hearing, appear to be more vulnerable to developing delusional disorder.] -WHAT COMPLICATIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DELUSIONAL DISORDER?- People with delusional disorder might become depressed, often as the result of difficulties associated with the delusions. Acting on the delusions also can lead to violence or legal problems; for example, a person with an erotomanic delusion who stalks or harasses the object of his or her delusion, could lead to arrest. Further, people with this disorder can eventually become alienated from others, especially if their delusions interfere with or damage their relationships. -WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK FOR PEOPLE WITH DELUSIONAL DISORDER?- The outlook for people with delusional disorder varies depending on the person, the type of delusional disorder, and the person's life circumstances, including the availability of support and a willingness to stick with treatment. Delusional disorder is typically a chronic (ongoing) condition, but when properly treated, many people with this disorder can find relief from their symptoms. Some people recover completely and others experience episodes of delusional beliefs with periods of remission (lack of symptoms). Unfortunately, many people with this disorder do not seek help. It often is difficult for people with a mental disorder to recognize that they are not well. They also might be too embarrassed or afraid to seek treatment. Without treatment, delusional disorder can be a life-long illness. -CAN DELUSIONAL DISORDER BE PREVENTED?- There is no known way to prevent delusional disorder. However, early diagnosis and treatment can help decrease the disruption to the person's life, family and friendships. {Phew! What an article! I’ve learnt something new today! Hope it has been useful to you too! :-) Hee hee! } |
Page 1 of 1
|