A well-written memoir can have the power to draw society’s awareness, discussion and eventually understanding to sensitive topics. Although a memoir is a story of one, memoirs often highlight experiences that others have shared and have underlying themes to which others can relate.

In recognition of May being Mental Health Month, Argosy University, Online Programs presents the following memoirs written by those who have been affected by mental illness, in the hopes of bringing your attention to the topics of mental health and illness.

Darkness Visible by William Styron

Later in his life, Styron, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning The Confessions of Nat Turner and National Book Award winner Sophie’s Choice, fell into a deep depression and was hospitalized for several weeks. Styron applies his lyrical gifts in narrating his struggle with despair. Darkness Visible is a poetic account of a person overcoming depression.

An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison

Jamison is a psychologist who suffers from bipolar disorder. As both clinician and patient, Jamison offers a unique perspective, writing on how her manic and depressive episodes wrecked her life and how lithium brought her out of her mania but also dulled her imaginative energy. In addition to Unquiet Mind, Jamison has coauthored the clinical textbook Manic-Depressive Illness and authored Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and the Artistic Temperament, exploring the relationship between mental illness and creativity, and Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide.

The Noonday Demon: The Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon

In The Noonday Demon, winner of the National Book Award, Solomon writes about his debilitating depression in which any social encounter, such as a book-signing event, could become terrifying. Solomon writes about his search for the right combination of psychiatric medication to alleviate his depression and the financial costs of the medicine. Solomon also writes of his mother’s terminal illness and her decision to end her own life. The book also explores mental health policy in the United States and policy makers whose lives are affected by psychiatric disorders.

The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness by Elyn Saks

Saks is a law professor with schizophrenia and is an expert on mental health and law. The Center Cannot Hold not only provides Saks' account of her struggles with her illness but also addresses mental health stigma in society.

Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia by Marya Hornbacher

Published when Hornbacher was 23, Wasted was short-listed for the Pulitzer Price and gives an account of her struggle with an eating disorder. Her follow-up Madness: A Bipolar Life recounts her years after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

Later made into a popular movie, Girl, Interrupted is about an 18-year-old’s psychiatric hospitalization for depression after a suicide attempt in 1967. Kaysen writes about her diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and her views on the conceptualization of mental health in the United States.

More Information on Mental Health Month

Mental Health Month: 7 Quick Ways to Ease Stress
Mental Health Month: Pathways to Wellness
May is National Health Month

If you’re like many people, when a new movie or book is released, you don’t want to know what surprises it contains. You go out of your way to avoid talking about the story in fear of accidentally discovering the ending and steer clear of anything that says “spoiler alert,” convinced that knowing the secret would ruin the story. But, is that actually true?

According to a study published in Psychological Science, spoilers may not spoil anything. In fact, the study found that knowing in advance a story’s outcome or an unexpected plot surprise may actually allow you to enjoy the story more.

Researchers Christenfeld and Leavitt ran three experiments using 12 classic short stories, including ironic-twist, mystery and literary stories by famous authors such as Roald Dahl, Agatha Christie and John Updike.

The researchers presented the stories to the subjects in one of three ways:
(1) as was originally written and without a spoiler,
(2) with a spoiler paragraph before the start of the story, and
(3) with a spoiler paragraph incorporated into the text as if it was part of the original story.

Each version of each story was read by at least 30 participants, and for each type of story, participants most preferred the version that was prefaced by a spoiler. Why and how could this be?

One researcher explained this surprising result by suggesting that perhaps we enjoy the good writing more than the actual plot. Another interesting idea proposed by the researchers is that a spoiled story may simply be easier to read.

"It could be that once you know how it turns out, it’s cognitively easier – you’re more comfortable processing the information – and can focus on a deeper understanding of the story," Leavitt explained in a press release on the study.

So, what do you think? Many of us enjoy re-watching our favorite movies and television shows and re-reading our favorite stories. Is this the same? When you read a book for the first time, do you enjoy knowing which one of the suspects committed the crime at the beginning, or do you prefer figuring it out yourself along the way?

Read the full press release here: Spoiler Alert: Stories Are Not Spoiled by 'Spoilers'.

Since the 1970s, April has been recognized as National Autism Awareness Month in an effort to enhance the general population’s knowledge of this condition and to encourage people to get involved with autism advocacy. In honor of Autism Awareness Month, here are a few frequently asked questions (and answers) about autism.

What is autism?

Autism is included in the autism spectrum disorders (ASD) group, which also includes Asperger syndrome and other neurodevelopmental conditions. All of them impair three major domains: socialization, communication and behavior. The end-result is a disability that affects not only the way autistics communicate with and relate to other people, but also the way they perceive the surrounding world.

How common are autism spectrum disorders (ASD)?

In the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health, ASD was reported to occur in as many as 20 per 1000 (1 in 50) children between 6 to 17 years old. This number is up from 11 per 1000 in 2007. It’s believed that most of this rise in the prevalence of autism is due to increased awareness of this condition and, therefore, earlier detection and diagnosis.

Is it true that autism occurs more frequently in boys?

Definitely. Classic autism is four times more common in boys than in girls. Asperger’s syndrome, which also belongs to the ASD group, is 11 times more common in boys. The reason remains a mystery.

Do vaccines cause autism?

No, the overwhelming majority of studies have not found any link between vaccines and autism. Thimerosal, the mercury preservative used in vaccines and regarded as a possible causative factor, was completely removed from vaccines in 2001.

Which signs should alert a parent about the possibility of autism?

The key is to look at the three main areas affected by autism. Children with autism have trouble relating to others and frequently prefer not to play with other kids. They avoid eye contact and dislike being touched. They generally start speaking much later and have trouble expressing their needs using words or emotions, so much so that parents may think that their child is deaf. These children also frequently show an intense interest in certain items or activities and tend to disregard everything else. Additionally, they tend to create rituals, like eating particular foods in a very specific order.

Is there a cure for autism?

No, there is not. However, early diagnosis and early intensive treatment can ameliorate this condition, move the child toward independence and improve the quality of life. Treatment focuses on behavioral and educational interventions that target the main symptoms.

What can I do to get involved?

There are many ways that you can get involved in Autism Awareness Month. Here are some websites to help you get started:

• http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/get-involved

• http://www.autismspeaks.org/

• http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/

Sources

• Blumberg SJ, Bramlett MD, Kogan MD, et al. Changes in prevalence of parent-reported autism spectrum disorder in school-aged U.S. children: 2007 to 2011-2012. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr065.pdf

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. "Learn the signs. Act early." campaign. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html

• "Accept Difference. Not Indifference." The National Autistic Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2013. http://www.autism.org.uk/

By Dan Friedman, Psy.D., M.B.A.
Faculty Member, College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
Argosy University, Online Programs

With NCAA March Madness upon us, I thought it a fitting time to venture into the blog world for the first time. Sure, I do some tweeting on occasion, but those tweets are usually only a line or two of my own writing. Other times, I use Twitter to share a story I read or some piece of visual inspiration. A blog is a new world to me, and it comes with a significant, but not overwhelming, amount of anxiety.

Significant but not overwhelming is the way that some athletes describe their stress level prior to or during competitions—not enough distress to cause a total breakdown but enough stress to stay out of the area considered optimal for performance and execution.

After days—well weeks—of ideas not making their way to paper (or the computer screen actually), I happened to watch a few buzzer beaters during the NCAA Basketball tournament. It clicked for me. Rather than focusing on the start of blogging or the content of this blog post, I should focus on the reward of the blog post—the feeling of completion, or, in essence, the achievement of victory. This focus on the end result might make me more likely to succeed.

Current research indicates that outcome visualization in certain situations can improve physical and psychological reactions. Creating an image of success lends itself to actual success. It boosts confidence and gives us a feeling of increased control over ambiguous situations in which we are attempting in some way to control future events.

While creating this post, I went beyond thinking about my own success. I imagined that if I wrote this post eloquently then you, the readers, would also begin utilizing the technique of outcome visualization to help you achieve personal victories in your lives.

I hope to see you atop the podium!

-Dr. Dan

Humans are social animals. Research shows that having a strong network of support or strong community bonds fosters both emotional and physical health and is an important component of adult life. Over the years, there have been a number of studies showcasing the relationship between social support and the quality of physical and psychological health.

The Research

While most studies examining the benefits of social support have focused on the elderly (Steptoe, Dockray, & Wardle, 2009), having a strong social network is crucial for psychological and physical health, regardless of age. For example, a study on incoming college freshmen found that social support was effective in reducing depression in both those who have healthy self-esteem and those with a poor self-image (Cohen, Sherrod, & Clark, 1986). The authors of this study found that belonging to a social network helped ease the stress for people entering university life.

Social involvement is also important as we age. In a study of Europeans over the age of 50, Sirven and Debrand (2008) found that individuals who participated in social or community activities were more likely to report good or very good health. The study was based on data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and included 11 European countries and 22,000 households (31,000 individuals).

What We Think

At Argosy University, Online Programs, we hope that you learn from these studies and continue to build the support networks in your lives. In addition to the psychological and physical benefits of having a support system, having friends and family who know about your academic and professional goals may help you to achieve them.

The support and encouragement from your friends and family will motivate you, and you can ask them to check in regularly on how you are doing in classes. Because they believe in you and because you see them so often, you won’t want to disappoint them. Plus, they’ll be excited to hear about your success!

For the last week of the Student Hero Contest, we hope you continue to network with other students online and also start talking with your family and friends about your online education experiences. If your hero is a family member or a friend you see every day rather than a student, we encourage you to still enter the contest and tell us about why he or she is so important to you!

Sources

Cohen, S., Sherrod, D. R., & Clark, M. S. (1986). Social Skills and the Stress-Protective Role of Social Support. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50(5), 963-973.

Sirven, N., & Debrand, T. (2008). Social participation and healthy ageing: An international comparison using SHARE data. Social Science & Medicine, 67, 2017-2026.

Steptoe, A., Dockray, S., & Wardle, J. (2009). Positive Affect and Psychobiological Processes Relevant to Health. Journal of Personality, 77(6), 1747-1776.

Walen, H. R., & Lachman, M. E. (2000). Social Support and Strain from Partner, Family, and Friends: Costs and Benefits for Men and Women in Adulthood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17, 5-30.