Mental Illness Analysis of Film Session 9 (2001)

Mental Illness Analysis of Film Session 9 (2001) Erica Moghtader Session 9: Mental Illness Analysis Deemed as one of the major cult films of all time, Session 9 invokes terror in the most realistic way possible- through abnormal psychology. In the end of the story, the character Mary Hobbes’ evil personality alternate, Simon, chillingly states when asked where he lives to the psychologist: â€Å"I live in the weak and the wounded, Doc (Anderson, 2001). Statements such as this lead to the notion that anyone could end up in a situation with, or actually like, the main character Gordon. In this paper I will discuss the various characters’ mental illnesses shown in Session 9 along with their symptoms, portrayal, and treatment amongst peers. This intense psychological horror film, directed by Brad Anderson, is centered on the restoration of a large mental asylum, built in 1871 and closed in 1985. Gordon Fleming (Peter Mullan), owner of an asbestos removal company, agrees to restore the building in an impossible turnaround time of one week. Gordon hires a crew: Phil (David Carusoe), Hank (Josh Lucas), Jeff (Brandon Sexton III), and Mike (Stephen Gevedon). Mike, secretly listens to nine old recorded therapy sessions that he found, which focused on patient #444 Mary Hobbes. Each employee has personal issues that get in the way of the job, and in combination with stress, it leads to the pinnacle of the story. The movie ends with all characters dead except Gordon, who has made patient room #444 his home. Considering the aforementioned synopsis, there are three characters that portray mental illness throughout the movie. Gordon, the main character, seems disturbed from the beginning of the movie. As the scenes unfold, symptoms of schizophrenia begin to arise. In one of the first scenes as Gordon and Phil tour the asylum for an asbestos removal bid, Gordon has his first auditory and visual hallucination. As Gordon intently focuses on a specific room, #444, he sees a shadow move across his face while hearing â€Å"Hello, Gordon† (Anderson, 2001). Both kinds of hallucinations go on throughout the movie, in particular when his hallucination eggs him on to kill his wife and baby: â€Å"Do it, Gordon!† (Anderson, 2001). In the final scenes of the movie, the voice reappears repeating the same statement as he murders all the employees. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema (2011) deliberates that schizophrenic auditory hallucination such as these â€Å"often have a negative quality, criticizing or threatening the individuals or telling them to hurt themselves or others† (p. 223). Persecutory delusion for ms towards the end of the movie when Gordon believes that Phil is lying about a certain phone call because he thinks Phil killed/hurt Hank. Catanotic excitement is also displayed as Gordon runs aimlessly throughout the asylum looking for Hank, whom had been missing for days. There were several scenes that contained avolition. Many times Gordon sat â€Å"daydreaming† in the cemetery, room 444, and in front of his home. Gordon also presented a symptom of sleepwalking, or somnambulism, when he gave Hank a frontal lobotomy. Dr. Prakash Masand (1995) associated sleepwalking with schizophrenia: â€Å"The prevalence of somnambulism is 1 to 6 percent in the general adult population, although a higher incidence has been reported in patients with schizophrenia, hysteria and anxiety neuroses.† Not only did Gordon suffer from a mental illness, so did his nephew Jeff. Jeff, a young chap who needed a job, suffered from situational phobia. In particular he suffered from nyctophobia or in layman’s terms, fear of the dark. On his first day in the asylum, the breaker flips and in turn Mike asks Jeff to go down in the basement to turn it on. Jeff directly tells him he has nyctophobia and will not go down. When he is forced to go down in the basement the first time and has to walk through a slightly dark room, he hurriedly remedies the problem. At the end of the movie in the tunnels, as the lights slowly go out putting Jeff in complete darkness, he has a severe panic attack. The DSM-5 states that Specific Phobia disorder can be diagnosed if the individual shows immediate fear, avoidance and out of proportion reaction to the phobic situation (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2011, p. 119). By the same token, patient Mary Hobbes also displays mental illness in the film. Although former, deceased patient Mary Hobbes never physically appears in Session 9, she makes quite an impression. Mary Hobbes was admitted into the asylum and diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. She had been traumatized by her brother Peter after he scared her causing her to fall on her porcelain doll, which in turn severely cut up her chest. At this point Simon took over Mary and killed Peter with his new hunting knife. In the taped sessions of Mary’s therapy, she does not remember anything that happened, even hysterically stating: â€Å"Nothing happened! No! I can’t remember!† (Anderson, 2001). Susan Nolen-Hoeksema (2011) explains that people suffering from dissociative identity disorder usually report significant periods of amnesia when the other personalities are in control (p. 163). Mary displayed three different identities: the Princess as the child alter, which is often associated with the development of dissociative identity disorder; Billy, the protector alter, who protects the individual from trauma; and Simon, the persecutor alter, who often inflicts pain or punishment (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2011, p. 162). Subsequently, the treatment amongst the mentally ill characters was different than the sane characters. Depending on the situation, characters Gordon, Jeff and Mary were stigmatized or treated with compassion, At first Phil empathizes with Gordon over his fight with his wife. Phil then quickly takes advantage of the situation to get a bigger bonus; he discusses with Mike that they should force Gordon off the project due to his behavior/health. Phil knows Gordon is not in the state of mind to handle being removed, and even says so when he’s smiling to himself on the roof: â€Å"It’s gonna get ugly† (Anderson, 2001). Jeff is stigmatized from the moment he announced his phobia. Mike was irritated and called him names like â€Å"Mullet Head.† Phil completely disregarded Jeff’s phobia, which forced him to go down into the basement to fix the breaker in the dark. Though Jeff’s mistreatment did exasperate his illness, the mistreatment of Gordon by Phil led the persecutory delusions of Phil hurting Hank. Though I do not condone the mistreatment, there are several other aspects I do enjoy about Session 9. Session 9 is one of the best independent horror movies, winning best director at the Catalonian International Film Festival in 2001. Considering myself a horror buff since my early twenties, this is one of my favorites. In my opinion, movies are the scariest if they could really happen. The realistic production and general plot make this movie even scarier. As I compared the mental illnesses of the characters to factual data, I realized that the symptoms portrayed were very close to being true to form. Every time I have watched Session 9 I find different aspects to debate or admire. Now that I added abnormal psychology to my mental list, there are even more to ponder! In conclusion, various mental illnesses symptoms, portrayal, and treatment amongst peers were shown in Session 9. From Gordon’s schizophrenia to Mary’s dissociative identity disorder, to Jeff’s nyctophobia, Session 9 accurately portrays the symptoms and typical mistreatment of the mentally ill. Many fans of the movie think that Mary Hobbes was possessed by Genius Loci, an ancient ideology that a spirit is attached to a place, and in turn possessed Gordon. And in all actuality, who is to say something like a Genius Loci does not exist? Maybe one day science will mesh with the supernatural, or at least get along with each other. References Anderson, B. (Director). (2001).Session 9[DVD]. Masand, Prakash. (1995). Sleep Walking.American Family Physician. http://www.drplace.com/Sleepwalking_-_includes_patient_notes.16.21241.htm Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2011). Abnormal psychology (6th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.

air pollution :: essays research papers

Air Pollution   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Air pollution is a serious problem in many of the worlds large cities. Heavy concentrations of air pollutants, which are often in the form of smog, settle over a city, creating a health hazard for its people. Air pollution occurs when wastes dirty the air. People produce most of the wastes that cause air pollution. Such wastes are usually in the form of gases. These substances result chiefly from burning fuel to power motor vehicles and to heat buildings. Industrial processes and the burning of garbage also contribute to air pollution. Natural pollutants include dust, pollen, soil particles, (100 Words) and naturally occurring gases.†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Encyclopedia)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The rapid growth of population and industry, and the increased use of automobiles and airplanes, have made air pollution a serious problem. The air we breathe has become so filled with pollutants that it can cause health problems. Polluted air also harms plants, animals, building materials, and fabrics. In addition, it causes damage by altering the earth’s atmosphere.† In and article published by THE NEWS in New Mexico they warned â€Å"If current environmental protection policies are no unforced, pollutants in city air will increase one million tons annually by year 2010.†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Encyclopedia, The News)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Air pollution (100 Words) can have a huge effect on health. When people breathe polluted air, the impurities can irritate their air passages and their lungs. Particles often stay in the lungs and can worsen symptoms such as asthma and bronchitis. Radon can cause lung cancer in inhaled in large quantities. Certain chemical compounds can cause cancer and birth defects also.† â€Å"Air pollution has also been linked to heart attacks† claims an article in the Health Scout News. â€Å"The study adds to the evidence linking particles from automobile exhausts, power plants, and refineries to heart problems.† (Encyclopedia, Health Scout News)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The United States does (100 Words) try to control air pollution. All levels of government federal, state, and local have passed laws designed to control pollution. Congress passed the Air Quality Act in 1967. Under this act, the federal government sets goals called air quality standards for achieving cleaner air. The states must enforce air pollution controls to meet the goals. When states fail to enforce the regulations, the federal government can act against the polluters by imposing fines.

Pain and Yoga Application Paper

Yoga Application Paper Kristen Sullivan Immaculata University Yoga Application Paper Originated in ancient India, Yoga typically means ‘union' between the mind, body and spirit. It involves the practice of physical postures and poses. As the name suggests, the ultimate aim of practicing Yoga is to create a balance between the body and the mind and to attain self-enlightenment. In order to accomplish it, Yoga makes use of different movements, breathing exercises, relaxation technique and meditation. Yoga is associated with a healthy and lively lifestyle with a balanced approach to life.It increases the lubrication of joints, ligaments and tendons of the body. Studies in the field of medicine suggest that Yoga is the only form of physical activity that provides complete exercise to the body, because it massages all the internal organs and glands. This in turn reduces the risk of many diseases. Yoga can create a positive permanent difference to the lifestyle of anybody practicing it on a regular basis (Weil, n. d. ). The whole system of Yoga is built on three main structures: exercise, breathing, and meditation.The exercises of Yoga are designed to put pressure on the glandular systems of the body, thereby increasing its efficiency and total health. The body is looked upon as the primary instrument that enables us to work and evolve in the world. Breathing techniques are based on the concept that breath is the source of life in the body, gently increasing breath control to improve the health and function of both body and mind. These two systems of exercise and breathing then prepare the body and mind for meditation, in turn finding an easy approach to a quiet mind that allows silence and healing from everyday stress.Regular daily practice of all three parts of this structure of Yoga produce a clear, bright mind and a strong, capable body (Weil, n. d. ). The tradition of Yoga has always been passed on individually from teacher to student through oral teaching and practical demonstration. The formal techniques that are now known as Yoga are, therefore, based on the collective experiences of many individuals over many thousands of years. The particular manner in which the techniques are taught and practiced today depends on the approach passed down in the line of teachers supporting the ndividual practitioner. As more has become known about the beneficial effects of Yoga, it has gained acceptance and respect as a valuable method for helping in the management of stress and improving health and well-being (Weil, n. d. ). A study in the journal Spine (Williams et al. , 2009) indicates the benefits of yoga as a treatment for back pain and confirms the importance of staying active when rehabilitating the spine and seeking pain relief, a point that may initially seem counterintuitive to patients but should not be lost.In the study, 90 back pain sufferers (aged 23 to 66) were split into two groups, with one group performing 90-minutes of Iyengar yoga twice a week for six months and the other maintaining their regular treatment over that time period (Williams et al. , 2009). At both the third and six months, the yoga participants noted significant improvements in both pain and functioning, and were also less likely to be depressed (Williams et al. , 2009).Pain levels were measured via questionnaires assessing the amount of pain medications being taken, difficulties performing certain tasks, and other metrics (Williams et al. , 2009). Previous studies have noted how extensive yoga programs have resulted in improvements in strength, flexibility and endurance for patients with back pain, and now this research seemingly adds more credence to the effectiveness of yoga and its emphasis on relaxation, flexibility and core strengthening as a treatment for these symptoms.While the principles of yoga may still be foreign to many people, patients should keep an open mind when exploring treatment options. While exercise may prompt init ial worries of exacerbating pain, such activities can often have wonderful therapeutic effects, not only physically but spiritually. Physical therapists, doctors of chiropractic, physiatrists and many other medical professionals may prescribe yoga programs, and are good sources to learn more about the benefits of physical activity – as opposed to immobility – for chronic back pain sufferers.A proposed plan to implement yoga as an alternative therapy and to evaluate its effectiveness could include gathering a sample group of people who are patients at a pain management practice for chronic back pain. Often these patients are on various pain medications and muscle relaxers to minimize their pain and discomfort. Of the sample group, half of the patients would be weaned off of their medications under the supervision of the doctor. This half of the sample group would then be started on a 12-week yoga program instructed by a rained yoga instructor while taking no medications . The other half of the group would continue on the current prescribed medications and given a basic stretching regimen to follow by a physical therapist. The participants will complete a questionnaire prior to beginning the study, as well as at 3 week intervals to assess their pain levels. At the end of the study the results of the questionnaires compared between the 2 groups will show if the yoga program has been effective or ineffective.This study will also show the comparison of pain levels between pain medications and the yoga program to provide information on the effectiveness of the medications. References Weil, R. (n. d. ). Yoga. Retrieved from www. medicinenet. com/yoga/article. htm Williams, K. , Abildso, C. , Steinberg, L. , Doyle, E. , Epstein, B. , Smith, D. , †¦ Cooper, L. (2009, September 1). Evaluation of the effectiveness and efficacy of Iyengar Yoga therapy on chronic low back pain. Spine, 34(19), 2066-2076. http://dx. doi. org/10. 1097/BRS. 0b013e3181b315cc

The Latino Culture - 1770 Words

The Latino culture takes a more monistic approach to the mind-body problem. This may affect the ways in which depression is experienced and expressed. For example, studies have found that Latinos are more likely to express psychological distress in somatic terms such as lack of energy, sleep disturbances, and body aches (Martinez Tyson, Castaneda, Porter, Quiroz, Carrion, 2011). Additionally, studies find that Latinos are more likely to take a holistic approach to healing as evidenced by the principle of â€Å"mente sana en cuerpo sano y alma sana’ (healthy mind in healthy body and healthy soul) which communicates the strong connection between mind, body, and soul (Comas-Diaz, 2006). This suggests that a purely physical approach to therapy may not be well-received by the Latino client, and is supported by studies showing Latino patients feel apprehensive towards being treated with anti-depressants even when they have positive attitudes towards receiving treatment for dep ression (Cabassa, Lester, Zayas, 2007). Understanding the client’s perception of the self is important in diagnosing and treating depression. Therefore, an effective therapist must be able to understand and incorporate the client’s worldview throughout the therapeutic process. Diagnostic issues Good and Good (1985) identity factors that contribute to bias in diagnostic judgements for people of color: inappropriate assessments, language (e.g., idioms of distress), and internalized racism. 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