Common concerns
These cover some of the common concerns people often have when considering seeking advice from a psychologist.
Mood Disorders
Depression is the most often sited of the mood disorders, and although it is a very loosely used term in contemporary society, in psychological terms, it is a state of mind that is pervasively negative, such that the negativity can hinder or impair an individual’s ability to function on a day-to-day level. Often, depression is described as a “learned helplessness”; a feeling that “there is nothing I can do” to address a difficult circumstance, and is frequently identified with references such as “things don’t seem clear”, “flat or dark mood”, “confusion”, and “uncertainty”. Often times, depression and anxiety can be experienced concurrently. Other mood disorders include Bipolar Disorder, Manic Disorders, and Dysthymic Disorder.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is more than just nervousness. Like depression, anxiety can be experienced in varying degrees and is most defined by a sense of either feeling “paralysed by fear” and/or “overwhelmed with tense feelings of agitation”. Often times, anxiety is linked with the experience of “panic attacks”, where people describe feeling physical symptoms such as chest pains, shallow breathing, dizziness, upset stomach, muscle tensions, and frequent/recurrent headaches. Often times, depression and anxiety can be experienced concurrently. Anxiety also includes the diagnoses of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress (distress), and a range of phobias.
Substance Disorders
These disorders a re defined by the use and impact of substances, illicit or otherwise. Examples of illicit substances include amphetamines (ecstasy, cocaine), opiates (heroin), and methamphetamines (speed, crystal meth/ice). Examples of licit substances include alcohol, nicotine, and even caffeine. Use of these substances qualifies as a disorder when the substance is identified as interfering in a person’s daily functioning (reducing one’s capacity to work, social interactions, concentration, motivation, commitments), and if the purpose for use is deemed to be destructive to a sense of self and to those around the user.
Sexual Health
Sexual health generally focuses on the belief systems that impact on one’s sexual identity and sexual expression, causing significant distress to one’s sense of self-esteem, as well as in interpersonal relationships. These disorders include erectile dysfunction disorders, orgasmic disorders, and sexual behaviours that put oneself and others at risk of sexually-transmissable diseases (STD). Further, sexual health includes the study of sexual orientation/preference, internet porn, and sex addiction. All of the staff at The Hills Psychology Clinic are non-judgmental, open-minded, harbour no prejudices, and are not interested in “reversing” sexual behaviours/orientations that are otherwise harmless to others, and we advocate the well-documented and researched premise that sexuality and its expression is fluid.
Relationship Dysfunctions
There is no one category of disorders that addresses interpersonal relationships. Relationship difficulties can often be identified as causal and/or symptomatic of psychological difficulties. As such, many relationship dynamics, such as parent-child relations, and other family dynamics, partner/spousal relations, friendships, and relations with work colleagues are all either effected by or causal to psychological difficulties, contributing to the manifestation of other disorders (depressive, anxious, substance, etc). Through thorough assessment, a well-trained psychologist will help determine the nature of any relationship problems, and facilitate effective skill development to address the same.
Personality Disorders
These disorders are complex and best defined by a belief system that creates uncertainty and significant problems to an individual’s sense of personal goals, relationships, and emotional functioning. These disorders are usually developed very early on in life, and are exacerbated over time through exposure. Some of the most often cited disorders in this category are Borderline Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
Eating Disorders
The common misconception is that these disorders are about problems with food, and indeed, sometimes they are. However, sometimes the underlying causal factor of these disorders (including anorexia, bulimia, and obesity) is emotional. Eating disorders are referred to as “affect disorders” – disorders with no detectable physical cause, leaving the likelihood that the causes are psychological. These disorders a re characterized by significant shifts in mood, belief systems, and eating patterns resulting in dangerous levels of weight loss. Often times, these disorders are coupled with anxiety, and may involve psychological, nutritional, and medical intervention to treat effectively.
Childhood Dysfunction
There are many concerns for parents regarding the psychological well-being of their children. This is expected given the general uncertainty of what defines a “healthy childhood” and “good parenting”. In the psychological literature, disorders within child development are defined as both psychological and sometimes physical, such that – when diagnosed accurately – can be treated by either a qualified psychologist and/or a specialist physician (such as an audiologist, speech pathologist, paediatrician). Some disorders in this category include autism, mental retardation, and conduct disorders.
Intelligence Testing
Intelligence the measure of one’s ability to process information in both a formal and casual setting. There does not exist one type of intelligence. There are many different types of intelligence, such as musical intelligence, spatial intelligence, numerical intelligence, and reasoning. As such, thorough intelligence testing administered by a trained psychologist, can provide an individual with an accurate report of strengths, as well as identify areas that may require specific developmental training. One can imagine the effectiveness of this type of tool in not only defining a child or adult’s natural abilities and talents, but – more importantly – facilitate the psychological functioning of an individual by embracing strengths and encouraging expression (leading to stronger levels of self-confidence and self-esteem).
Health psychology
Health psychology generally refers to the study of the psychological impact of health/medical conditions on those living with the diagnosed medical condition, as well as the impact on the carers, family/partners, and friends, such as diabetes, respiratory diseases, oncology (cancer), hearing-impairment and difficulties with the balance between the ear, nose, and throat (vestibular psychology), paralysis, neuropathy, pain, and HIV/AIDS.
Workplace Difficulties & Workers Compensation
The workplace is a complex interaction of personalities and belief systems. Most of the time, we can focus on completing our designated tasks and interact effectively with colleagues, sometimes even making some of our closest friends through this environment. However, this is not always the case, and sometimes the workplace (through sustaining physical injuries, and/or feelings that you are being bullying, victimised/harassed) can contribute to feelings of depression and/or anxiety, and can result in feelings of being “incompetent”, “trapped”, “isolated”, “unheard” and “misunderstood”.