One third of care-givers of schizophrenics abusive

Russel Crowe from the film about a schizophrenic

Carol Forsloff - Given the complications of schizophrenia, and the lack of information and education on the subject, it is not surprising that one would find issues of abuse in families.  In fact research several years ago found  one third of caregivers of people with dementia report abusing the person for whom they are caring. 

The abusive behavior tends to increase over time.  Researchers found  the longer individuals had to care for individuals with dementia the worse the abuse became.

Over a period of a year a group of caregivers were studied and at least one-third  reported having depression and anxiety and being involved in incidents of abuse toward the individuals for whom they were caring. 

As a result of this, clinicians now suggest trials of psychological intervention to help caregivers deal with their feelings and to help reduce the anxiety and depression that often accompanies caregiving, especially when providing support for individuals who have dementia.

They also suggest that similar trials of psychological support be rendered to those who care for the elderly where statistically there are also significant cases of abuse  and to assess how these services can be delivered in a cost-effective manner.

This study was done in Great Britain and reported in the British Journal of Psychiatry.  Information in the United States has also found care-givers of those with mental disorders have higher levels of anxiety and depression than others, so it is likely those same recommendations made for care-givers in Great Britain would be reasonable for individuals who care for the seriously ill no matter where they live.

The problems of living with, around or in any way involved in the care of a schizophrenic means understanding the guidelines of care.  With Internet access, these are available. But given the issues in both diagnosis and treatment, many families lack the information to understand a family member may be suffering from a serious mental illness.  Furthermore the cost of care, diagnosis, care, hospitalization and group living situations can be costly.  In addition, there are fewer and fewer psychiatrists available to work with these patients or to work families.  Therefore many psychiatric patients fall between the cracks, according to those psychiatrists working with the population. Add to that the fact many families are not involved in any of the counseling or management, due to doctor's presuming to treat the patient and not seeing the need to involve the family, relying only on their observations and cognizant of patient privacy issues as well.

These complications can lead to abuse, as they already have.

Media attention to the worst acting-out behaviors also makes it difficult for people to understand and cope with schizophrenia.  There are many who languish in jails or on the streets because of rounds of ignorance abuse.

It is also likely why that abuse from caregivers can multiply in the minds of the seriously ill, so that on occasion the acting out turns to violence.

Experts say the more education on mental health and access to diagnosis and treatment, the better.  That is because of the family patterns of the disease, the fact that the illness can run in families.  It will aid in curbing abuse, while helping families at the same time understand and support their members with complicated problems.

Washington D.C. not best place to find a “real man”

[caption id="attachment_14747" align="alignleft" width="190"] Gladiator Russel Crowe[/caption]

Carol Forsloff - A group of women were overheard at a Portland restaurant to be discussing what they wanted in a man.  The word “manly” was shifted around, each woman with her own definition of what that might be.  So what do the rank and file of folks consider manly and what movies attract the definition? And what place stands out as one to avoid in the search for that “real man?”

In an attempt to entice men to fashion that reflects the manly look,  a company in the United Kingdom called Bluebeard’s Revenge, gives the results of their survey of what constitutes those manly traits in film.

Russel Crowe is on the winning team at #1 with the film “Gladiator.”  Those who have seen the movie will recall the strong, courageous, gladiator who fights for justice, specifically the killing of his wife and the ruination of his people.  He conquers all, to be consequently lauded by Rome, then killed as is the destiny of those whose sole purpose is in the killing as entertainment.

A press release quotes the Bluebeard Revenge company spokesperson,  Nick Gibbens,  as saying,: “Gladiator will go down in history as one of the greatest films ever produced. The film was nominated for and won multiple awards, particularly five Academy Awards in the 73rd Academy Awards including Best Picture. It’s certainly a deserving winner of the coveted title ‘world’s manliest move’.

The top two runners up to the most manly of men were Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone.  Willis is known for his “Die Hard” films and Stallone for “Rocky” and “First Blood” and other epic action-adventure films that feature leaps and bounds by the principals in the films, where the hero alone is able to vanquish great hordes of folks in frequent scenes of violence.  The women in these films are strong, yet in need of protection from these very manly men.

A group of counselors give advice on what women want in a man.  What they say at the outset is that women deal with their emotions more than men do in answering the question and that these emotions fluctuate a good deal.  What seems to stand out on the list of the manly qualities is not penis size and sex but more the characteristics of a man who knows what he wants and how to get it.  In other words, psychological strength is key to that manliness.

Now where would you find the least “manly” of men?  According to the review that includes a Washington Post article, that would be Washington D.C. where “[A] bevy of questionable superlatives don’t speak highly of the region. In addition to having the nation’s worst traffic congestion, D.C. has been named among America’s ugliest, rudest, most caffeinated, and least manly cities.”

The qualities of tenderness, kindness and helpfulness are often on those lists of what women want, but that venue requires a selection where women significantly dominate the numbers in relationship to the availability of men, but the tough guy veneer with the quality of protecting the female remains the dominant image in what represents a true man.