DR MAX PEMBERTON: One in ten people has Amber disorder

DR MAX PEMBERTON: One in ten people has Amber disorder

How many people do you know with a personality disorder? Your answer will likely be none. But in reality, these conditions are incredibly common – they just don’t get talked about. In fact, personality disorders are so hidden that many people are not even aware of their existence. However, one in every 20 people in the UK has one.

Mental health has gained increasing attention and importance in recent years, but for some reason personality disorders are still in the shadows. Unlike other mental illnesses like depression or bipolar disorder, celebrities don’t seem to want to surrender to their personality disorder, and the stigma surrounding it is very much alive.

They are in secrecy and shame, but they deserve our understanding and compassion just as much as any other mental health issue.

But last week, they were in the spotlight for a few days after actress Amber Heard allegedly had two. Unfortunately, I’m afraid this hasn’t helped people fight these conditions.

Dr. Max Pemberton says personality disorders are hidden in secrecy and shame. But last week, they were in the spotlight for a few days after actress Amber Heard (pictured) allegedly had two. However, she is concerned that it is not helping those struggling with these conditions.

It’s worth taking some time to think about how this happened in court. As part of Johnny Depp’s defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, Amber, in the United States, an expert from Ms. Heard identified two types of personality disorders: emotionally labile (sometimes called borderline personality disorder) and histrionic personality disorder.

The expert explained how sick people can show “too much cruelty”, “worry too much about their appearance” and “play the role of victim or princess”. Not only are they “angry-filled”, they can also “make up stories” and show “extreme annoyance because they’re not the center of attention”.

The effects are obvious. Ms. Heard’s mental health problems are used to undermine her credibility as a witness.

I’m shocked that mental health issues could be used in a lawsuit against such a person. It also provides a distorted view of what personality disorder is.

I have worked with people with personality disorders for many years, including 12 months in a private ward. In my experience, these patients are desperately ill and in need of care, love and support.

We know they are vulnerable and at greater risk of crime, especially sexual assault, but too often I have seen professionals dismiss them as “dramatic” or “fantastic” when attacked or even raped. This is what the stigma surrounding mental illness looks like.

Dr.  Max Pemberton (pictured) says mental health has received more attention in recent years, but personality disorders have yet to be mentioned.

Dr. Max Pemberton (pictured) says mental health has received more attention in recent years, but personality disorders have yet to be mentioned.

So what is a personality disorder and how is it treated? There are ten recognized types, but it is commonly defined as “an ingrained and inflexible pattern of relating, perceiving, and thinking that is severe enough to cause distress or dysfunction.”

People with personality disorders may harm themselves or use alcohol or drugs to control their emotions and feelings. The isolation and anxiety they may feel as a result of their condition makes them more prone to other mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

They are divided into three main groups according to the type of underlying emotional problem: A) strange or eccentric; B) dramatic, emotional, or erratic (where Ms. Heard’s diagnosis fell); C) worried or worried.

These conditions are not always helpful and can further strengthen the stigma attached to these conditions. Long-term problems getting along and interacting with people are often the first signs that someone may have such a disorder. An important feature is that the symptoms are recurrent and ingrained and the condition has serious consequences for the person’s life.

Many people will have some aspects of a personality disorder, but unless they are causing serious problems, they are often said to have “traits” but not the entire disorder itself.

Personality disorders are usually diagnosed by a psychiatrist. The part of the brain responsible for our personality is called the prefrontal cortex. It continues to grow until it is twenty-five years old. For this reason, a personality disorder cannot be truly diagnosed in a child, and most doctors try to avoid being diagnosed in humans until they are at least 20 years old.

People with personality disorders are often dismissed as weird, annoying, or overly emotional. Yet psychiatrists like myself see many people with personality disorders and know how much pain and suffering they can cause.

While it was once thought that people with personality disorders have it all their lives and little can be done to help them, we now know that this is not the case.

Research has shown that long-term private psychotherapy can help correct the imbalance in personality traits and help patients achieve balance and, more importantly, recovery. It is time consuming and costly, but most NHS funds have specialized personality disorder services that provide intensive treatment.

Many of us in the mental health industry fear that the way Ms. Heard’s personality disorders are used in court will further stigmatize this common but incredibly misunderstood condition. What a tragedy that would be.

That’s why it’s important to raise awareness and talk openly about it. There is no shame and it is not the fault of the person who has it. With the right treatment, they can and do get better.

Conservative lawmakers and colleagues said it was illegal to ban visiting loved ones in hospitals and nursing homes. Thankfully, we eventually rebel against all evidence and reason – against the apparatuses in institutions that insist – isolating the sick from the outside world is the best.

Too bad for lazy teachers

He says the treatment of students is a scandal.  They pay astronomical fees to sit in their bedrooms and stare at a screen that results in a diminished college experience.

He says the treatment of students is a scandal. They pay astronomical fees to sit in their bedrooms and stare at a screen that results in a diminished college experience.

Ministers have warned universities that they could face fines if they do not return to teaching soon. Good. The treatment of students is a scandal. They pay astronomical sums to sit in their bedrooms and stare at the screen. What an unfair and underrated experience. It makes even less sense when you consider that students’ Covid risk is so low. Teachers should be ashamed of themselves. The pandemic has shown the true nature of some people. Rather than trying to help students get better over the past two years, many in colleges have selfishly retreated behind the scenes and prefer the comfort of teaching in the comfort of their home. The victims are students.

  • NHS chiefs are asking older doctors not to retire during a staffing crisis. There has been a breakthrough in recent years, thanks to the hoops they have to pass to maintain their training license. Doctors face an annual review and five years of “rehabilitation” introduced in the wake of the Harold Shipman scandal. The process includes an extraordinary amount of modules. I went there a few years ago and had to take four days off a year to post 30,000 words. From what I’ve seen, the worst doctors are so good at exercises because they like to neglect their patients to exercise. I prefer doctors to be watched by evaluators while they work. It could prevent old doctors from throwing in the towel after being overwhelmed by bureaucracy.

DR MAX RECIPE…

SPINACH

Spinach may help prevent dementia, especially thanks to its high levels of two important antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, according to new research.

Spinach may help prevent dementia, especially thanks to its high levels of two important antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, according to new research.

Looks like Popeye always had the right idea! Spinach may help prevent dementia, especially thanks to its high levels of two important antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, according to new research. A few times a week, I try to eat it either lightly steamed with black pepper or raw from the bag as a snack.

Source: Daily Mail

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