Mental Health year in review: Child Bipolar Disorder

One thing that I came across while reading the Mental Health Year in Review 2008, was child bipolar disorder. This interested me because I didnt really know much about it. Also, i always pictured bipolar disorder to be associated with a guilty adult, rather than an innocent child.
Nevertheless, some scientists are reluctant to diagnose children in general to this disorder. In spite of this, there are symptoms of pediatric bipolar disorder that include irritable mood, extreme silence, rapidly changing moods, explosive rages, separation anxiety, defiance of activity, lack of sleep, hyperactivity, and more. This criteria is similar to the adult disorder, but children and teens only need to have four of these symptoms in order to be diagnosed. Adults usually have distinct cycles, while children have fluctuating periods of irritability. In addition, these symptoms may lead to a great deal of stress in children or teens. In fact, the condition may go to an extreme that children will be at risk for school failure, substance abuse, and/or suicide.
It's important for one to not get confused with these symptoms. Feeling separation anxiety, for example, is completely normal such as on the first day of school. However, because the diagnostic manual doesn't recognize pediatric disorder or the symptoms listen above, there is quite a bit of controversy over the validity of the diagnosis.

Personality Test Results Summary

I wasn't to surprised with my test results. A couple reiterated things I already knew about my self, while a couple others gave a label that I would not have previously thought of. The Jung Typology Test said I am ISFJ and:
moderately expressed introvert
moderately expressed sensing personality
moderately expressed feeling personality
slightly expressed judging personality
I think this test is the most reliable. Some of the questions were repetitive, but I think that it was necessary in clarifying the test-taker's personality.

The Big 5 was quite detailed. I found it to be moderately accurate, however i didnt prefer it because of it's length. My results seem as though i can improve some things about myself. I had a low Expressive style of 2.10, a high interpersonal style of 4.10, a high work style of 3.5, a high emotional style of 2.4, and a medium intellectual style of 3.00

The Big 7, was of course, similar to the Big 5. I thought it was slightly inaccurate, however, not useful since most of my scores turned out to be "medium." I had a medium Ambition of 2.90, a medium Sociability of 2.80, a medium Likeability of 3.00, a high Prudence of 4.3, a medium Adjustment of 3.40, a medium School Success of 2.90, and also a medium intelligence of 2.90. I thought that the questions were not well-rounded.

I didn't like the Deviant Personality Test. It asked strange questions like "do you find yourself attractive" or vicious vain. The scores were confusing and weren't worded correctly. There wasn't even a total overall score. the test said i was ethical, honest, and not arrogant.

Why haven't you sent me a letter yet?

Dear Mom,
Freshman year at Yale hasn't started out to great. It seems as though my teachers don't care at all about the stress I'm having. They know of my high school backround and should therefore speak to me with more respect and generosity, right?
Zack doesn't seem very emphatic about being blessed with such a spectacular roomate like me. He claims that he is too busy studying to hang out with me during the week. How selfish is that? I don't know why he is being such a loser. I guess it's because he's jealous of me since I'm two-and-a-half inches taller.
Mom, it's been a while since you last told me that you're proud of me for getting into Yale. I bet that when i come back to vist next month, y'all are going to throw a surprise party and have gifts for me and everything!
I know it's just the beginning, but I can see it now-- I'll be such a successful person by the time i graduate. I'd have so much experience, have so many friends, and I'd be the role model for hundreds of high school students.
Oh I almost forgot! I dyed my hair jet-black! I know you got a little paranoid the last time I dyed it, but this time, it's fifty times better! I'll be so annoyed when i come back home and everybody asks me about my new hair.
See you soon!
Love your favorite son,
Hussain
PS: Don't forget that you can never love me too much.

Cher's Noneffective Dyslexia

Cher, born in California in 1946, is a woman of many talents-- an actress, a pop singer, a director, and a record producer. Her legacy comprises of many things, including her memoir The First Time and singles like "Strong Enough," "With or Without You," "Still," and more. However, her childhood was full of sadness; she was poor, had no father, and her mother married eight times and could not support the family.

Surprisingly, Cher had the psychological disorder Dyslexia. By the time she was sixteen, Cher dropped out of school and started to act in Los Angeles. She did not regret her decision of leaving school because her life once again changed. At the age of sixteen, she met Sonny, and started a pop/rock duo with him titled "Sonny &Cher." Dyslexia seldom affected her life, aside from her education, as she became quite successful. For example, 100 million of her records have been sold worldwide.

Dyslexia, in my opinion, is a disorder which should not be frowned upon as much. This disorder does indeed affect people's lives, however, they should learn to cope with this disorder. Like Cher, one should have goals in life that are not affected by this issue. For example, someone who has dyslexia should not have ambitions that require extensive English or writing skills.