Advanced Systemic Solutions with Martyn
Carruthers
We present interactive seminars and demonstration-rich
workshops on systemic coaching, relationship happiness, resolving family
chaos and relationship bonds. Email us if you would like a seminar.
Symptoms called Developmental Disorders
and Personality Disorders are opinions used by health professionals to determine
treatments. Few opinions can be confirmed in a laboratory. A systemic coach who understands
how these diagnoses compare to systemic diagnosis can better communicate with psychologists and health
professionals.
Personality Disorders and Developmental Disorders
are rarely used in systemic coaching, nor are statistical data perceived
to be useful for coaching individual clients. We use systemic diagnosis:
Relationship Diagnosis (Family Matrix & Family
constellations)
Goal Diagnosis (Goalwalk, Goal hypnosis
and Conflict maps)
Relationship History (Relationship events; memories
and guilt)
Non-verbal diagnosis (to confirm, enhance or disprove
diagnoses)
Descriptions of personality
disorders are useful when discussing symptoms. However most people
want to explore, define,
plan and
achieve meaningful goals. See Meaning of
Life & Soul Mentorship
Personality Disorders & DSM IV
The Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), by the American
Psychiatric Association, offers guidelines to assist health professionals
to form opinions (that
cannot be confirmed or rejected scientifically). The described symptoms overlap considerably
and the recommended treatments for different disorders may be identical. See
Systemic Coaching & Mental
Health
1. Adjustment Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with Adjustment Disorders are
anxiety, aggression and depression, depending on the person's
physical or emotional age.
1. Anxiety Symptoms (children
or age-regressed adults)
Disregards the feelings and rights of
other people.
May use or exploit other people for their
own gain.
May lie repeatedly, act impulsively and
enjoy physical violence.
May mistreat spouses, neglect or
abuse children, and exploit employees.
3. Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with Anxiety Disorders are
panic attacks / anxiety attacks which include racing heart,
hyperventilation, breathing difficulties, chest pain, nausea,
dizziness, headaches, trembling and more.
Anxiety Disorders include the fear of spontaneous panic attacks, anxiety or
agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD, (repetition of rituals) and post
traumatic stress disorder or PTSD (follows a life
changing experience such as bereavement or a near fatal accident.)
Symptoms associated with
Bipolar Disorder are
swinging moods and thoughts, irrational behaviors. Although
sometimes pleasurable, the suffering may lead to suicide. The label
indicates episodes of mania and depression, although a person may function normally between
these episodes
Manic Phase
feel intensely happy and self-important
sleep less and talk in rapid-fire speech
have inflated self-esteem, confidence
Depressive Phase
feel sad or indifferent about work, activities
think slowly, concentrate poorly, fatigued
may feel a sense of worthless or helpless
7. Borderline Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with
Borderline Personality Disorder are
intense emotional instability,
particularly in relationships
may perceive minor problems to be major
crises
may express anger and frustration through
self-harm
Children with this disorder are emotionally
unstable, impulsive, and often bitter or angry, although their
chaotic impulsiveness may make them popular at school. See Borderline
8. Conduct Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with Conduct Disorders are
repetitive and persistent violations of people or important
community or social rules.
aggressive to people / cruel to animals
bullies, threatens or intimidates others
destroys, burns or steals property
This disorder applies to children ...
adults with similar symptoms are likely to be labeled Antisocial
Personality Disorder. See
Troubled Teenagers
9. Dependent Personality Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with
Dependent Personality Disorders are
severe and disabling emotional dependency on others
difficulty making decisions without advice and reassurance
urgently seeks a new relationship when a relationship ends
Symptoms associated with Depersonalization Disorder
are a sense of detachment or dissociation from the body. These symptoms can
impede normal functioning.
Feel as though they are floating above
the ground, outside their own body
Feeling that they or other people are
mechanical or unreal
Feeling of being in a dream
This is called Lost Identity in
Systemic Coaching. The symptoms are similar to some descriptions of
out-of-body and near-death experiences (NDE). See
Identity Loss
11. Depressive Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with Depressive Disorder
are chronic pessimism, gloominess and cheerlessness - see
Depression
12. Histrionic Personality Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with
Histrionic Personality Disorder are
Narcissism can be adaptive and is
pathological only if it leads to dysfunction. Pathological
narcissism is the art of deception. Symptoms associated with
narcissism are persistent deception and self-aggrandizement without
regard to others
may seek excessive admiration from others
may fantasize about unlimited success or
power
may believe they are special, unique, or
superior to others
Some narcissist behavior conforms to cultural norms. Consider
the idiom "Fake it 'til you make it". Reacts
to crises with narcissism. See
Little Prince
-
Little Princess
15. Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Symptoms associated with
Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder are:
preoccupation with details, orderliness,
perfection, and control
may devote excessive amounts of time to
work and productivity
may fail to take time for leisure
activities and friendships
This personality disorder is said to
differ from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which may include
more bizarre behavior and rituals. See
Obsessions & Compulsions and
Eating Disorders
16. Panic Disorder (Panic Attack) Symptoms
Symptoms associated with Panic Disorder
(Panic Attacks) are:
periods of intense fear, apprehension,
or discomfort
racing heart, shortness of breath,
trembling, choking
fears of “going crazy,” losing control,
or dying from a heart attack
People with panic disorders may develop
agoraphobia - a fear of being in places or situations from which
escape might be difficult should a panic attack occur. See
Anxiety Disorders
17. Paranoid Personality Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with
Paranoid Personality Disorder are
may act constantly suspicious and distrustful
toward other people
may believe that others oppose or are against them
may be hostile toward others and react
with anger to perceived insults
These symptoms are typical of Victim Identification,
in which a person identifies with a family victim and expresses suspicion and anger.
See
Paranoia &
Personality Identification
18. Passive-Aggressive Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with Passive-Aggressive personality disorder
are
constant complaints
covert criticism of authority
sullenness and silent disobedience
A person
punishes others for perceived wrongs. This
may be a reaction to an aggressive or violent parent. This behavior resembles victim identification. See
Personality Identification
Symptoms associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders
follow traumatic experience that involved actual or potential serious injury
(physical or emotional) to self, a family member or
friend.
intense fear, helplessness or horror
disorganized or agitated
behavior, especially in children
persistent re-experiencing of the
traumatic event (flashbacks)
PTSD symptoms allow a person to retreat from reality
and avoid the disturbing emotions associated with acute or
chronic trauma, often by acting like a wounded child. See Trauma
20. Schizoid Personality Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with
Schizoid Personality Disorders are:
isolation - avoids
close personal relationships
may prefer to be alone and seem withdrawn
and emotionally detached
often indifferent to praise or criticism
from other people
Symptoms associated with schizoid
personality disorder allows a person to avoid displaying
immature behavior or non-existent relationship skills. See
Identity Loss & Schizophrenia
21. Schizotypal Personality Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms associated with
Schizotypal Personality Disorders are:
abnormal thinking, speech, and behavior
may use words and phrases in
unusual ways
may believe they have magical control
over people or things
Symptoms associated with schizotypal personality disorder
may be labeled as mild schizophrenia. The symptoms allow a
person to express emotions
from parenting or childhood trauma. See
Schizophrenia
22. Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms (SAD)
Seasonal Affective Disorder
(winter depression) is characterized by
depressed behavior during
autumn and winter
craving for sweet and/or starchy foods
lower productivity, motivation and
productivity
The difficult months are
usually January and February, with women and children having a higher
risk. The risk of SAD increases with latitude. See
Depression
Do you want relationship coaching
or systemic coach training? Do you want to coach people to resolve
emotional and relationship challenges? Contact us.
