Public Navigation

1Community

	Share your thoughts with in 1Community

New Hope CE Notes
June 2000

Dr. Bill Gaultiere
(714) 971-4213
drbill@CrystalCathedral.org

This is the complete notes from class for your review and study. This class is a brief overview of the most common mental disorders that we encounter at New Hope.

1. The "Touch" that Heals the Hurting

1. Mark 5:24-34: A woman with a chronic blood disorder who spent all her money on doctors to no avail was healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe.

• She reached out to Jesus in faith and made contact with Him.
• Jesus felt power go out from Him.

1. The "New Hope touch" Over the phones and in the chat room we offer a healing touch of sorts.

• Our caring demonstrated through active listening, kind words, brainstorming, helpful referrals, prayers, etc. does make a difference…
• If the caller reaches out to us in faith — eagerness, trust, connectivity, belief, responsiveness, appreciativeness, etc.
• As helpers we can feel "power go out" when someone connects with us and makes use of our caring and help. This is a good feeling, though it does remind us of the need to replenish our emotional reserves.
• After you’ve listened and supported a caller adequately and near the end of the call ask yourself if the caller would benefit from a referral. Our New Hope referral guide is over 20 pages long and includes support or information for most problems that callers need help with.

1. What is Mental Illness?

1. Broad Definition: a diagnosable mental disorder, which causes impairment or distress in the person’s functioning, relationships, or well-being.
• 28% of Americans have a mental disorder at one time or another during a given year
2. Narrow Definition: a serious, chronic, biologically-based mental disorder like Schizophrenia, Bi-polar disorder, Major Depression, Personality Disorder, or other disorder.
• Over 33% of New Hope calls come from those with an acute or chronic mental disorder.
3. Most Common New Hope Caller Problems (via phone):
• 35% relationship problem
• 18% physical health problem
• 17% mental health concern
• 12% depression
• 11% prayer need
• 5% anxiety
4. Most Common New Hope Caller Problems (via internet):
• 18% depression
• 15% prayer need
• 14% relationship problem
• 10% anxiety
• 8% suicidal (1/2 % via phone)
• 8% mental health concern
5. Mental Illness and Suicide:
• Of those who commit suicide: 50% have Major Depression, 25% are under the influence of alcohol, and 10% are Schizophrenic
• 20% of patients with Bi-polar disorder or Major Depression commit suicide
• Alcoholics have 50% higher incidence of suicide than the general population
• 10% of Schizophrenics kill themselves

C. Depression

1. Definitions:
• Biological depression: chronic or acute depression, significant difficult functioning, chemical imbalance, family history of depression, needs medication treatment from an M.D. (ideally a psychiatrist)
• Reactive depression: short-term reaction to a stressor, needs support/care and life adjustment, psychotherapy may be needed, can develop into a biological depression if not treated
• Bi-polar disorder: alternating periods of major depression (acute or chronic depression) and mania (extreme energy, activity, grandiose ideas, sleeplessness, agitation)

 

2. D-E-P-R-E-S-S-E-D Symptoms (Questions to ask):

• D ifficulty sleeping, eating, or sexually? Are you sleeping too much or not enough? Are you overeating or have you lost your appetite? Has your sex drive diminished significantly or gone into overdrive?
• E nergy-less? Do you feel tired most of the time? Are you having trouble feeling motivated to do the things you need to do?
• P essimism about your future? Do you feel negative about what’s ahead for you? Do you feel hopeless?
• R egrets about your past? Do you feel bad when you think about things you’ve done in the past? Are you struggling with guilt?
• E njoyment gone? Have you lost a sense of pleasure in your relationships, activities, and hobbies? Does life feel more like a chore than a joy?
• S ad? Are you experiencing unexpected tearfulness? Do you feel unhappy much of the time?
• S elf-critical? Are you quick to criticize your mistakes? Are you often harsh with yourself?
• E mpty? Do you feel a sense of emptiness? Does your life feel mundane or lacking in meaning?
• D ecisions difficult? Are you having trouble deciding what you need to do in situations? Are you having problems concentrating?

3. New Hope Response: See Dr. Bill’s articles "Help for Depression" and "How to Stop Depression" and the CE Notes, "Dark Clouds, Silver Linings."

D. Anxiety

1. Definitions:
• Stress: Life changes or challenges (both positive and negative) that we encounter in the outside world
• Fear: An emotional state of alarm in response to specific "dangers" that someone is afraid to encounter or experience
• Anxiety: An emotional state of generalized tension or upsetness in response to stress which is denied, unknown, or unwanted
• Panic: An emotional state of intense and debilitating fear, feeling trapped and out of control
2. A-N-X-I-E-T-Y Symptoms (Questions to ask):

• A gitated? Are you easily frustrated or irritated or upset? Do you lose your temper often?
• N ot sleeping? Are you having trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep? Do you often wake up and not feel rested?
• X —fears? Do you have any fears that you accommodate by avoiding situations? Are you afraid of social situations, interpersonal conflict, rejection, failure, public speaking, leaving home, airplanes, spiders, knives, etc.?
• I n your body? Have you been experiencing shortness of breath, heart palpitations, tightness in your chest, discomfort in your stomach or bowels, twitching, shaking hands, sweaty palms, or tingling?
• E scalating worries? Are you worried about problems you’re facing? Do your thoughts race out of control?
• T raumas relived? Does your mind keep re-experiencing an upsetting event(s)? Are you having nightmares?
• Y es all the time? Do you feel pressured to say yes to other people, to your perfectionism, or to make troubling thoughts go away?
1. New Hope Response: See Dr. Bill’s article, "Antidotes for Anxiety."

 

E. Addictions

1. Definition: Compulsive behavior or excessive use of a substance that causes distress in functioning, relationships, or well-being. Can be focused on alcohol, drugs, food, sex, work, internet use, gambling, shopping, or co-dependent relationships.
2. Underdiagnosed: In one study 94% of family doctors failed to diagnose signs of alcohol abuse when presented with classic symptoms in an adult patient.
3. A-N A-D-D-I-C-T Symptoms (Questions to ask):
• A lone? Do you sometimes use the substance or activity alone?
• N on-premeditated use? Do you sometimes do this without planning or intending to? Do family, friends, or conscience tell you that you’re doing this too often?
• A mnesia? Have you ever lost recollection of a period of time during which you used this substance or activity? Do hours seem like minutes when you do this? When doing this do you sometimes forget appointments or commitments?
• D epend on the "high?" Do you anticipate your next opportunity to do this? Do you feel bad if you go an extended period of time without doing this? Have you tried unsuccessfully to cut back?
• D istracted? Are you distracted with thoughts of doing this? Has your performance at work or school gone down since doing this?
• I ncreased tolerance? Are you able to do more of this than most people? Do you keep using this substance or activity more and more to get the "high" you want?
• C onceal supply? Do you hide this behavior or your access to it? Do you lie about what you’re doing?
• T ranquilizer? Do you do this to feel better or to numb pain? Do you do this to forget about your problems?

4. New Hope Response:

• Assess whether or not the caller may have an addiction (compulsive behavior problem)
• Encourage the caller to get help, e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous
• If the caller is intoxicated with their drug of choice and is rambling or not likely to remember your conversation then limit the call time and ask them to call back when sober.
• See Dr. Bill’s article, "New Hope for Aholics"

F. Schizophrenia

1. Definitions:
• Psychosis: Loss of contact with reality; hallucinations: seeing, hearing, smelling things that aren’t there; delusions: fixed, unreal beliefs about yourself or others
• Schizophrenia: Psychotic symptoms, bizarre behavior, emotionally flat, isolated, difficulty functioning
1. New Hope Response:
• These people need our compassion and patience. Often they have no one to talk to.
• If caller is actively psychotic, disoriented, or continually not making sense then limit your call time. Gently let these callers know that you don’t understand what they’re saying and refer them to their doctor or therapist.
• Realize that they often stop taking their medicine and relapse after they’re feeling and doing better. They need to accept their schizophrenia as a disability of sorts and stay on their medication.
• It’s especially important for them that they have a job for the structure, self-esteem, and interaction with other people.
• See Dr. Bill’s article, "Help for Schizophrenia"

Help for Depression CE Exam