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Bipolar Schizophrenia Versus Schizoaffective Disorder

Bipolar Schizophrenia Versus Schizoaffective Disorder

Sandra Stein2024-12-21T09:23:26+00:00December 10th, 2024|Bipolar Disorder, Featured, Individual Counseling|

Is bipolar schizophrenia a thing? The answer is yes and no. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy level, and thinking, whereas schizophrenia causes a person to lose touch with reality. They are two separate and distinct mental health conditions, and the diagnosis of one typically excludes the other. However, there are rare cases where a person exhibits symptoms of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at the same time. When that happens, however, it is not diagnosed as bipolar schizophrenia, but rather as bipolar schizoaffective disorder. What is schizoaffective disorder? Schizoaffective disorder is an uncommon, chronic, mental health condition that dramatically affects the way a person thinks and copes with his or her day-to-day life. It is characterized by a mix of schizophrenic symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking, combined with either bipolar mania or depression (schizoaffective disorder bipolar type), or a major depressive disorder (schizoaffective disorder, depressive type). Because the condition is so rare, getting the right diagnosis can be challenging. Schizoaffective disorder is one of the most frequently misdiagnosed psychiatric disorders in clinical practice and is often misidentified as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. How is bipolar schizoaffective disorder diagnosed? There are two steps to diagnosing bipolar schizoaffective disorder. The first one is a medical evaluation to rule out any other physical or neurological condition that might be causing the symptoms. The other focuses on the diagnostic criteria of the disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), for a person to be diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, he or she needs to meet the following criteria. The person must have an uninterrupted period of illness during which he or she experiences a major manic or depressive episode, in addition to two or more of [...]

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Doing the Work: Self, Spiritual Goals, and Personal Growth

Doing the Work: Self, Spiritual Goals, and Personal Growth

Kate Motaung2024-12-06T17:58:34+00:00November 29th, 2024|Featured, Personal Development, Professional Development, Spiritual Development|

Spiritual goals and growth are not about practicing more religious habits. While those can be external reflections of a relationship with Christ, the root of it occurs in our hearts. Becoming more like Jesus originates in shared time and surrender. Sometimes, we have notions about what we think serving God is supposed to be. Yet, we haven't always inquired with our Father about what that looks like for us, considering how He formed us and fit us in various roles and responsibilities, with distinct spiritual aptitudes and natural abilities. God wants to shape our lives in ways that will not only transform us but also impact our environment. Sometimes, we are preoccupied with the reverse. We envision shifting outside conditions, believing that internal transformation pivots on shifting circumstances. This externalizes our joy, resting it on outside sources with no real guarantee that they will produce the difference we desire. A few well-placed changes may suffice temporarily, but they won't bring the abiding peace and long-term transformation that glorifies God and blesses us and others. Instead, Jesus invites us to journey with Him into our souls to dig deep concerning our spiritual goals and growth. As we yield, the Holy Spirit does the work of changing our lives from the inside out. He may rearrange circumstances, but He often begins with our character. Ultimately, He transforms us, enabling us to make environmental changes reflective of who He is and what He's doing within our souls. The following outline a few ways we can follow His lead, with spiritual integrity and practical simplicity. Self-Reflection The mirror of God's Word enables us to accurately see ourselves as God does (James 1:23-24). Often, the world's noise distracts and infiltrates our souls with toxins that blur our vision, blinding us to the influences that [...]

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Examples of Professional Boundaries and Why They Matter

Examples of Professional Boundaries and Why They Matter

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T10:43:23+00:00October 1st, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development|

Work is a good thing, even though it can be hard or feel unrewarding at times. A person’s work can provide a sense of meaning and an outlet for their creative gifts, and it allows them to provide for themselves and their family. However, work can take over one’s life and transgress professional boundaries, occupying more space than it should. This can have detrimental effects on a person’s health as well as their relationships. Having a decent work-life balance helps to minimize the negative effects of work taking over one’s life. Maintaining that balance requires reliable professional boundaries. Understanding boundaries A physical boundary is a line of some kind that tells you where one thing ends, and another begins. A boundary could be the walls of your apartment which distinguishes your space from your neighbor’s space. If you have a parking space at work, the boundary that marks your spot out is usually a set of lines and an inscription that indicates what you have exclusive access to. In our relationships, we won’t often have physical lines that work the same way, but that doesn’t mean boundaries don’t exist or that they don’t matter. When it comes to how we relate to others, boundaries are, according to the American Psychological Association, “a psychological demarcation that protects the integrity of an individual or group or that helps the person or group set realistic limits on participation in a relationship or activity.” A boundary says, in effect, “This is me, and this is you.” We are all made uniquely in God’s image, with our opinions, values, abilities, personalities, tolerances, loves, pet peeves, and everything that makes us who we are. These are what distinguish us from the next person. Your boundaries protect your integrity, and they guide others in how to interact [...]

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Why Building Self-Esteem is Important

Why Building Self-Esteem is Important

Kate Motaung2024-10-30T10:43:29+00:00September 30th, 2024|Depression, Family Counseling, Featured, Personal Development|

Self-esteem may seem like something we all have, and there is little we can do to change it. The facts of who we are determine how we see ourselves, and there is no changing those, right? Don’t be so sure. The reality is our perception of ourselves is often subjective and influenced by our circumstances. For example, how do you feel after spending time chatting with those you love, versus spending time scrolling social media? You will likely feel comfortable and happy after a meaningful, edifying conversation rather than considering the advantages of others who are enjoying and living their best life. Maintaining and building self-esteem is important as it can be the reason you feel good and take care of yourself, versus feeling like you just cannot be bothered. The messages and advice many have heard throughout their lives are to believe in themselves and to love themselves. These may feel motivational, but how can they last and what is their application to daily life? After all, the advantages of having high self-esteem far outweigh the significant disadvantages attached to a low view of yourself. To get a handle on why building self-esteem is important, consider the definition that self-esteem is how we evaluate and understand ourselves. It's based on our opinions and beliefs about ourselves. These opinions can feel difficult to change. Self-confidence is another way of thinking about self-esteem. Therefore, admiring and respecting yourself is a key part of having healthy self-esteem. But why building self-esteem is important goes beyond that. It is coupled with ascribing to yourself admiration, respect, dignity, and love. In believing in yourself, you unlock the capacity to learn and contribute to the world around you as well as trust yourself to do a good job. You have an assurance that your [...]

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Do You Need a Certified Life Coach?

Do You Need a Certified Life Coach?

Melissa Plantz2024-10-03T12:37:59+00:00August 29th, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Professional Development, Spiritual Development|

In a world of constant changes and transitions, you don’t have to navigate it alone. While friends and family can be a great source of support, there are limitations. They may offer advice that isn’t always helpful or overlook issues that could hinder your progress. This is where a certified life coach can step in. A certified life coach is an expert in a particular area based on their own experiences. Unlike a counselor or therapist, a certified life coach does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Instead, they focus on posing questions, active listening, and suggesting steps to help you reach your goals. Why you should consider a certified life coach. A life coach can be anyone who uses their skills, past experiences, and successes to help others reach their goals in the same area of expertise. The industry for life coaches is unregulated, but a certified life coach has the added advantage of having taken the required training and learned skills to communicate effectively with various people. If you plan to make a major change in your life or see if it is possible, a certified life coach can help you get started. You can find a coach in just about any industry. For example, if you are trying to lose weight and get healthy after years of dieting, a certified life coach in the health and wellness arena could help you set goals, choose one goal to focus on, and create a plan. As you progress toward your goal, the life coach supports you by checking in and helping you reassess and adjust, as necessary. What a certified life coach could do for you You want to find a certified life coach in the specific area you need to focus on. The following are common [...]

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Healthy Ways of Finding Self-Acceptance

Healthy Ways of Finding Self-Acceptance

Jennifer Kooshian2024-10-03T12:42:56+00:00August 27th, 2024|Coaching, Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development|

In your lifetime, there will only be a small group of people who can say that they’ve known you for most of your life. Your folks, older relatives, your siblings, and some friends from the neighborhood that you’ve somehow managed to stay in touch with will be among these. As we go through life, relationships end and we part ways with people, and by the time one is 25-40, there’s typically only a small circle of people we truly know and trust, which makes self-acceptance important. Of course, as you go throughout life, you’re doing it with and as yourself. In whatever situation you find yourself in, you’re bringing your thoughts, hopes, dreams, deepest fears, gifts, and everything that you are. As you make decisions, work, engage in relationships, have conflicts, make up, and apologize, you do these things in accordance with your values or beliefs, though sometimes you may choose to compromise. Whatever else happens in your other relationships, you should be able to live with yourself at the end of the day. Being able to accept yourself and be content is such an amazing gift because it has many implications for your well-being. The struggle for self-acceptance Self-acceptance allows you to face the world with confidence, and it also allows you to be more impervious to criticism. When you accept yourself, you see yourself for who you are without pretense or judgment. You can recognize your own strengths, accomplishments, and weaknesses, and you can see your value and see yourself with sober judgment without needing the approval of others. Accepting yourself helps you to navigate the world better without the harsh background noise of what other people think. You’re better able to make decisions based on the merits, not based on other people’s opinions. This can [...]

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4 Fun Tips to Help Kids Enjoy Moving into a New House

4 Fun Tips to Help Kids Enjoy Moving into a New House

Grace Mavindidze2024-10-03T12:38:43+00:00August 22nd, 2024|Christian Counseling for Children, Christian Counseling For Teens, Family Counseling, Featured|

Moving into a new house, a new state, or a new country is always challenging, and even more so for children. It is easy for kids to experience social anxiety due to the loss of familiarity and security that kids associate with home. One of the best ways to combat any anxiety associated with relocation is by restoring that sense of joy, peace, stability, and familiarity that they get from the home in other ways as they make the transition. The truth is that the family itself is the greatest source of familiarity a child has, rather than the physical structure of the house. However, it is harder for children to understand this and adapt to a new town and new home. Although moving means leaving loved ones behind, it’s important to keep your kids focused on the future and how much moving into a new house can be an exciting adventure! Handy hacks to make moving into a new house fun Use technology to paint a picture of where you’re going One of the best ways to catch the interest of kids these days is by using the one word they understand the most: technology. There are now hundreds of apps and sites that can help you paint a creative picture of your new house even before you move. For example, one of the coolest apps is Google Earth, a 3D program for visualizing Earth through satellite imagery. It allows you to zoom down to a street-level view of any place in the world in real time! Imagine the fun kids can have exploring their new home as if they were in their own video game. Help each kid create their own moving-day kit The toughest part about moving into a new house for most kids is the [...]

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Surprising Facts about Anxiety and Panic Attacks that Everyone Needs to Know

Surprising Facts about Anxiety and Panic Attacks that Everyone Needs to Know

Grace Mavindidze2024-10-23T18:48:25+00:00July 5th, 2024|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Men’s Issues, Women’s Issues|

Most of us have heard about anxiety or panic attacks and believe we know exactly what they mean. However, if you have never experienced those symptoms, you might be surprised and realize how little we know. I’m sure no one alive four years ago will ever forget where they were, what they did, who they were with, or how they felt when the world was rocked to the core by the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic. To be honest, many of us initially ignored those first reports, alerts, and warnings, chalking them off to media gimmicks and overdramatization. Remember, none of us had experienced a pandemic before in our lifetime, so the concept was rather foreign to us. Seemingly overnight, we all realized that we knew someone who was sick, hospitalized, had lost someone, or had lost their lives. Millions of people experienced anxiety or panic attacks, much to their surprise. Fact 1: Even the strongest can have anxiety or panic attacks As dreadful as the situation can be, many can convince themselves that they are the strong ones emotionally, invulnerable to attack. Even while helping others, organizing things for the community, or being the face of strength and reliability, people can still have a panic attack. One such woman reports being a community leader and being taken by surprise by a panic attack. She reports the memories of the day are still crystal clear in her mind. She remembers waking up feeling like she had fallen into moving water with a strange, wave-like feeling. She kept getting intense chest pains that would grip her suddenly and subside within a few minutes. She was shaking and sweating profusely. Her heart was racing and pounding in her chest, and she felt feverish. With hands and legs feeling as heavy as lead, she [...]

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3 Important Questions to Ask Before Marriage

3 Important Questions to Ask Before Marriage

Emmah Machokoto2024-10-03T12:37:32+00:00June 12th, 2024|Couples Counseling, Featured, Premarital Counseling, Relationship Issues|

The idea of marriage is exciting for many people, long before getting into a relationship. In part, this is because marriage can be overly idealized and romanticized in the mainstream media. Much of the media portrays marriage as almost fairytale-like, from an almost unrealistic perspective. Marriages in most movies are preceded by a big fancy wedding where the relationships are almost perfect and effortless. Presented like this, it’s not surprising that most of us want and expect that unrealistic standard in our relationships and marriages. In the United States, the sobering statistics are that fifty percent of first-time marriages end in divorce. This is contrary to what the media portrays. Marriage is not easy and takes a lot of commitment, effort, and work. There are fights in marriage and financial challenges. People change over time. A lifelong marriage requires two committed people to get into an authentic and candid relationship with each other for it to be rewarding and fulfilling. 3 Important Questions to Ask Before Marriage The decision to get married is one of the biggest decisions you will make in life, so it is important to give it the consideration that it deserves. Here are three important questions to ask before marriage. 1) Am I ready for marriage? Society sometimes puts unwarranted pressure on people of a certain age to get married. Questions are asked and hints are given. It gets worse when the people in your circles start getting married one by one and you are the only one left without that ring on your finger. While societal pressure does get too much, it is much easier to deal with that than the effects of an unhappy marriage. Before getting into a relationship or committing to a marriage, ask yourself if you are ready to settle [...]

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Anger in the Book of Proverbs

Anger in the Book of Proverbs

Wade Van Staden2024-10-03T12:38:33+00:00May 29th, 2024|Anger Issues, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues, Spiritual Development|

The Bible offers much wisdom when it comes to understanding emotions and mental health. Proverbs, especially, has a lot to say on the topic of anger. The timeless truths in the book of Proverbs are well worth unpacking and examining because many apply to the situations we face today. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger - Proverbs 15:1, NIV We must all face conflict at some point in our lives. This can be a scary thing for many of us, especially those who grew up in homes that never experienced shouting, harsh words, or arguments. A benefit of being conflict-avoidant is that gentle communication is often the very thing that de-escalates a fiery exchange. Answering an angry person softly and being gentle with your words will catch the person off-guard and create space for calmer communication. Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city - Proverbs 16:32, NIV It can feel empowering to vent anger because doing so will often get results. For example, bosses often express their anger at employees because they are in a position of power and may get away with it without losing their jobs. However, it will come at a cost. The atmosphere in the workplace will be affected, not to mention the mental health of the workers. Mature leaders know that valuing relationships is better for the longevity of business. The angry boss would do better to take time to investigate what frustrates him and communicate from a place of knowledge rather than anger. This principle applies to all types of relationships. Cool heads and patience will always prevail over outbursts and tantrums. A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them and you will have to do [...]

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