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We offer coaching and training on relationship happiness,
resolving family chaos and solving emotional and relationship problems.
Warning: As you read about these symptoms
you may become aware that some apply to you.
Note that most normal people experience some of these symptoms from time to
time, and that some are a requirement for various occupations! Please seek
professional help if the symptoms last.
Link to Part 1 -
Developmental Disorders
Symptoms called Developmental Disorders
and Personality Disorders are opinions used by psychologists and health
professionals to help determine appropriate treatments. A coach who understands
these opinions can better communicate with psychologists and health professionals,
although few of these opinions can be
confirmed or rejected by laboratory tests.
If a person appears to have a diagnosable
medical or psychiatric condition,
please refer that person to a medical doctor or psychiatrist.
Personality Disorders and Developmental Disorders
are medical terms that are rarely used in coaching. Descriptions of personality
disorders are useful when discussing symptoms with health professionals. Statistical
data are not useful for coaching individual clients. In our coaching,
we use:
- Relationship History (relationship events)
- Relationship Matrix (family constellations)
- Goalwork (goal diagnosis
and conflict management)
- Non-verbal signals (confirm, enhance
or disprove messages)
Personality Disorders & DSM IV
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM), owned by the American Psychiatric Association, offers guidelines to
assist health professionals to form opinions that cannot be confirmed
or rejected scientifically. Note that the sets of symptoms described in DSM
overlap considerably, differ from person to person and that the recommended
treatments for different disorders are often identical. See
Systemic Coaching & Mental
Health.
1. Adjustment Disorders
Symptoms associated with Adjustment Disorders are
anxiety, aggression and depression, depending on the person's
physical or emotional age.
1. Anxiety Symptoms (children or age-regressed
adults)
- Nervousness & worry
- Fear of separation from parents or partner
- Agoraphobia (extreme)
2. Behavioral Symptoms (adolescents &
age-regressed adults)
- Preoccupation with violence (e.g. TV, computer
games and cinema)
- Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Hyperactive
Disorders (ADHD)
- Violation of others rights, property or societal rules
3. Depressive Symptoms (adults)
- Depression and withdrawal
- Melancholy, crying and tearfulness
- Expressions of hopelessness and helplessness
See Identity Loss
& Relationship Bonds |
2. Antisocial Disorders (Sociopath / Psychopath)
Symptoms associated with
Antisocial Disorders are
- Disregards the feelings and rights of
other people.
- May use or exploit other people for their
own gain.
- May lie repeatedly, act impulsively and
enjoy physical violence.
- May mistreat spouses, neglect or
abuse children, and exploit employees.
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3. Anxiety Disorders
Symptoms associated with Anxiety Disorders are
panic attacks / anxiety attacks which include racing heart,
hyperventilation, breathing difficulties, chest pain, nausea,
dizziness, headaches, trembling and more.
Anxiety Disorders include the fear of spontaneous
panic attacks, anxiety or agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorder or
OCD, (repetition of rituals) and post traumatic stress disorder
or PTSD (follows a life changing experience such as bereavement
or a near fatal accident.)
See Anxiety,
OCD,
Trauma & PTSD |
4. Attachment Disorders
Symptoms associated with Attachment Disorders are
repetitive and persistent violations of people, or violation of important
community or social rules.
- focus on immediate personal goals
- preoccupied with blood, fire and gore
- demanding, manipulative and abusive
See
Identity Loss & Relationship Bonds |
5. Avoidant Disorders
Symptoms associated with Avoidant Disorders are:
- fears being criticized and rejected
- social withdrawal due to intense, anxious
shyness
- avoids interacting with others unless
they feel certain they will be liked
See Identity Loss and
Relationship Bonds |
6. Bi-Polar Disorders (Manic-Depression)
Symptoms associated with
Bipolar Disorder are
swinging moods and thoughts, and irrational behavior. Although
sometimes pleasurable, the suffering may lead to suicide. The label
indicates episodes of mania and depression, although a person may
function normally between these episodes |
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Manic Phase
- feel intensely happy and important
- sleep less and talk in rapid-fire speech
- have inflated self-esteem, confidence
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Depressive Phase
- feel sad or indifferent about life, activities
- think slowly, concentrate poorly, fatigued
- may feel worthless, hopeless or helpless
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See: Identity Conflict
transcript |
7. Borderline Disorders
Symptoms associated with
Borderline Personality Disorder are:
- may perceive minor problems to be major
crises
- may express anger and frustration through
self-harm
- intense emotional instability,
particularly in relationships
Children with this disorder are considered to be
emotionally unstable, impulsive, and often bitter or angry, although
their chaotic impulsiveness may make them popular at school. See
Borderline |
8. Conduct Disorders
Symptoms associated with Conduct Disorders
are repetitive and persistent violations of people or important
community or social rules.
- destroys, burns or steals property
- aggressive to people / cruel to animals
- bullies, threatens or intimidates others
This disorder applies to children ...
adults with similar symptoms are likely to be labeled
Antisocial Personality Disorder. See
Troubled Teenagers |
9. Dependent Personality Disorders
Symptoms associated with Dependent Personality Disorders are
- severe and disabling emotional dependency on others
- difficulty making decisions without advice and reassurance
- urgently seeks a new relationship when a relationship ends
See
Dependence and
Codependence |
10. Depersonalization Disorders
Symptoms associated with Depersonalization Disorder
are a sense of detachment or dissociation from the body. These
symptoms can impede normal functioning at home, at school, or at
work.
- Feeling of being in a dream
- Feeling that they or other people are
mechanical or unreal
- Feel as though they are floating above
the ground, outside their own body
This is called Lost Identity in Systemic Coaching.
The symptoms are similar to some descriptions of
out-of-body and near-death experiences (NDE). See
Identity Loss |
12. Histrionic Personality Disorders
Symptoms associated with
Histrionic Personality Disorder are ...
- exaggerated emotional reactions
- may talk in dramatic or theatrical ways
- constant attempt to be a center of attention
See Emotional Incest |
13. Oppositional Defiant Disorders (ODD)
Symptoms associated with ODD are ...
- easily annoyed by others
- deliberately annoys people
- angry, resentful and argumentative
See Troubled Teenagers |
14. Narcissistic Personality Disorders
Narcissism can be adaptive and is
pathological only if it leads to dysfunction. Pathological
narcissism is the art of deception. Symptoms associated with
narcissism are persistent deception and self-aggrandizement without
regard to others. Reacts to crisis with narcissism, e.g. "this cannot be
happening to ME".
- may endlessly brag or boast
- may seek excessive admiration from others
- may fantasize about unlimited success or
power
- may believe they are special, unique or
superior to others
Some narcissist behavior conforms to cultural norms -
consider the American idiom Fake it until you make it. See
Covert Emotional Incest |
15. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality
Symptoms associated with
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder are:
- may fail to take time for leisure
activities and friendships
- preoccupation with details, orderliness,
perfection, and control
- may devote excessive amounts of time to
work and productivity
This personality disorder is said to differ from
obsessive-compulsive disorder, which may include more bizarre behavior and
rituals, and some people are even obsessive about statistics.
Don't confuse greatness with perfection. To be great anyhow is a higher
achievement.
See
Obsessions & Compulsions and
Eating Disorders |
16. Panic Disorders (Anxiety Attack)
Symptoms associated with Panic Disorder
(Anxiety Attacks) are:
- periods of intense fear, apprehension,
or discomfort
- racing heart, shortness of breath,
trembling, choking
- fears of going crazy, losing control,
or dying from a heart attack
People with panic disorders may be diagnosed with
agoraphobia - a fear of being in places or situations from which
escape might be difficult should a panic attack occur. See
Anxiety Disorders |
17. Paranoid Personality Disorders
Symptoms associated with
Paranoid Personality Disorder are
- may believe that other people oppose or are against them
- may act constantly suspicious and distrustful
toward other people
- may be hostile toward others and react
with anger to perceived insults
These symptoms are typical of Victim Identification,
in which a person identifies with a family victim and expresses suspicion
and anger. See Paranoia &
Personality Identification &
Chronic Anger |
18. Passive-Aggressive Disorders
Symptoms associated with Passive-Aggressive
personality disorder are
- constant complaints
- covert criticism of authority
- sullenness and silent disobedience
A person punishes other people for perceived wrongs - but is
afraid of their own anger. This
may be a reaction to an aggressive or violent parent. This behavior
resembles that associated with victim identification
and may indicate identification with a pretend-victim. See
Passive Aggressive for more. |
19. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD)
Symptoms associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
follow traumatic experience that involved actual or potential serious injury
(physical or emotional) to self, a family member or
associate.
- age-regressed (childish) behavior
- intense emotions, fear, helplessness or horror
- disorganized or agitated
behavior, especially in children
- persistent re-experiencing of the
traumatic event (flashbacks)
PTSD symptoms allow a person to retreat from reality
and avoid the disturbing emotions associated with acute or chronic trauma,
often by acting like a wounded child. See Trauma
& Abuse |
20. Schizoid Personality Disorders
Symptoms associated with
Schizoid Personality Disorders are:
- isolation - avoids
close personal relationships
- often indifferent to praise or criticism
from other people
- may prefer to be alone and seem withdrawn
and emotionally detached
Symptoms associated with schizoid
personality disorder allows a person to avoid displaying
immature behavior or non-existent relationship skills. See
Identity Loss & Schizophrenia |
21. Schizotypal Personality Disorders
Symptoms associated with
Schizotypal Personality Disorders are:
- abnormal thinking, speech, and behavior
- may use words and phrases in
unusual ways
- may believe they have magical control
over people or things
Symptoms associated with schizotypal personality disorder may
be labeled as mild schizophrenia. The symptoms may allow people to express
unpleasant or forbidden emotions from parental disappointments, family abuse or childhood trauma. See
Schizophrenia |
22. Seasonal Affective Disorders (SAD)
Seasonal Affective Disorder
(winter depression) is characterized by:
- craving for sweet and/or starchy foods
- lower productivity, motivation and
productivity
- depressed behavior increases during
autumn and winter
The difficult months in the northern hemisphere are
usually January and February, with women and children having a higher
risk. The risk of SAD seems to increase with latitude. See
Depression |
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