Psychological Disorders and Substance Abuse Id'ed

Caution: This article is not intended to diagnose or confirm a self-diagnosis of any mental illness. Always consult a trained specialist.

The body of psychological research and the debate that research creates provide ample ammunition to review and diagnose behavioral schemes for prognosis and perspective.

Mental health disorders occur commonly enough in society to cause great concern as the number of cases of the varied disorders increase. In this article, a brief exploration of the different disorders receives minute attention including gender disorders, sexual disorders, paraphilias, and personality disorders.

Gender disorder characterizes behaviors and thoughts that place a person outside of the normal parameters of gender identity.

“Gender identity disorder (GID) or transsexualism is defined by strong, persistent feelings of identification with the opposite gender and discomfort with one's own assigned sex.”³

Gender identity disorder causes controversy today. Law Makers in Phoenix, AZ passed legislation allowing transgendered males access to women's restrooms, which caused mixed reaction in the community for women and girls safety from sexual predators posing as transgendered men. Society is more tolerant of gender differences than in the past and gender confusion may lose its place as a disorder.

Homosexuality has lost its negative stigma at least in the media. It lost a listing in the DSM series in the 1970’s. Just as it was once considered a gender disorder before the American Psychological Association changed it to fit in normal sexual behavior, gender confusion is more acceptable now. Gender reassignment is considered a correction for gender confusion after invasive and proper psychological evaluation.

Sexual disorders characterize behaviors and thoughts that place a person outside of the normal parameters of sexual function. Difficulty at any period during a sexual act defines sexual disorders, which have four major divided categories: sexual desire dysfunctions , sexual arousal dysfunctions, orgasmic disorders and sexual pain disorders.

With all of the above listed disorders, there are extremes on both ends of the spectrum except for sexual pain disorders. Too much or too little sexual desire, arousal or orgasms can cause problems in the relationship of a sufferer or even lead to criminal behavior such as rape if left untreated.

These pathological behaviors create an extensive list of disorders consisting of exhibitionism, voyeurism, fetishism, transvestic fetishism, frotteurism and a list of other eccentric disorders not specified. Paraphilias occur less frequently than sexual dysfunction and differs from sexual disorders because of the nature of the sex act.

Paraphilias include sexual desire stimulated by young children, inanimate objects, inflicting pain, experiencing pain, etc. The list can include just about anything that stimulates sexual urges. Listed are examples of a number of paraphilias.

Exhibitionism involves exposing genital or sexual organs to a stranger, it is generally called "flashing." The exhibitionist is typically male, and the victim is usually a female (adult or child), and usually an unsuspecting stranger.⁵

Voyeurism is a psychosexual disorder describing a person who derives sexual gratification from viewing the naked bodies and genital organs or observing the sexual acts of others.⁶ (pornography)

Fetishism can be any ritualistic preoccupation with any object or idea that may and often does lead to sexual arousal and gratification. Fetishes are commonly mistaken by the general populations as some refer to hobbies or interests as examples of fetishism. Doing so is a misnomer. Fetishism can lead to serious cognitive arrest and social disruption.

Transvestic fetishism generally occurs with men, but not exclusively. Among women, it is not generally regarded as a disorder since it is socially acceptable for women to wear traditionally male-oriented clothing.

Though it may change in the near future from being a disorder, transvestic fetishism occurs when the subject has a neurotic desire to wear clothing of the opposite sex and is aroused by doing so. Gender preference does not determine who engage in "cross-dressing" as it is popularly known.

It is more prolific in society than many may imagine and has received attention in modern entertainment media. It is suggested that J. Edgar Hoover engaged in this fetish.

Frotteurism describes the neurotic desire to rub or make contact with others, generally with the genitalia. This neurosis occurs mostly with males and usually, the victim is nonconsensual. The subject derives gratification from the adrenal rush of sexually assaulting unsuspecting people and, if possible avoiding capture. It can be a form of rape depending on the application of the word.

Frotteurism does not need to occur with genitalia per se as mentioned. Subjects can achieve arousal using other body parts, though it is uncommon.

“Personality disorder is a general term for a type of mental illness in which your ways of thinking, perceiving situations and relating to others are dysfunctional.”⁴ It is a disorder where suffers have difficulty relating to themselves and others.

The list of personality disorders includes paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal as a part of the cluster A group of the A, B, C grouping of personality disorder.

Cluster B includes, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality, histrionic Personality Disorder and narcissistic personality disorder—a list of Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic personality disorders.

The Cluster C includes disorders of personality with anxious or Fearful behavior: avoidant personality Disorder, dependent personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

As Eating, substance abuse, gender/sexual, and personality disorders become more prevalent, a proper understanding of the different disorders provides a more aware approach to those who suffer from the maladaptive behavioral patterns.

The American Psychological Association and other organizations provide many sources of information and aid to assist those who lack proper understanding access. The body of research provides ample ammunition to review and seek proper treatment and appropriate perspective to treatment.

If you feel that you suffer from any of the disorders listed, pleased consult a trained specialist. Never self-diagnose.

Did you know that schizoid and schizotypal can be considered two parts of schizophrenia? Well they can. Watch this video, which is the final part of a series of videos uploaded in Youtube by Ashley Lanquist

Hansell, J., & Damour, L. (2005). Abnormal Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley

• (Hansell & Damour, 2005, Pg. 256)²

National Eating Disorder Associations (2009). Statistics: Eating Disorders and Their Precursors.

• (National Eating Disorder Associations, 2009, pg. 1)¹

Psychology Today (n.d.). Gender Identity Disorder

• (Psychology Today, n.d., ¶ 1)³

MayoClinic.com (2009). Personality Disorders.

• (MayoClinic.com, 2009, ¶ 1)⁴

Psychology Today⁵

Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders⁶