Doc_B's definitions

Insane

The state of suffering a severe mental disorder, typically in which the afflicted individual can no longer differentiate between reality and fantasy (psychosis).

His later years were spent in an insane asylum.

by Doc_B April 16, 2015

Delusion

A false belief which cannot be explained by cultural norms and that the patient often holds strongly. There are many forms, two of which are grandiose (e.g., the belief that one is God) and persecutory (e.g., thinking that aliens are trying to kill him or her). Delusions are a form of psychosis which often occur in the course of a severe mental disorder, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

The belief that aliens reside in one's nose is a delusion.

by Doc_B April 16, 2015

Clinical depression

Also referred to as major depressive disorder, major depression, unipolar disorder or simply depression, this illness is a psychiatric condition marked by severe feelings of despondency and dejection, typically accompanied by changes in eating and sleeping habits, anhedonia (loss of interest), fatigue, somatic pain and, at the extreme, suicide ideation. Also occurs in bipolar disorder (depressed phase).

Clinical depression is a serious mental illness and quite different to the ordinary sadness we all experience from time to time.

by Doc_B April 14, 2015

Panic attack

Arguably the most extreme manifestation of acute anxiety, a panic attack is an episode of sudden apprehension and intense fear, combined with physiological symptoms that closely resemble a heart attack.

A panic attack is the most frightening experience one can ever experience; I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

by Doc_B April 14, 2015

Bipolar disorder

Also known as manic depression (dated), bipolar affective disorder is a severe, debilitating psychiatric illness characterised by alternating periods of elevated mood and energy levels (mania or, if milder, hypomania) and lowered mood and energy levels (depression). It runs on a continuum from subsyndrominal to extremely severe but is generally regarded as one of the more serious mental illnesses, esp. in its classic form (type I). During severe manic or depressive episodes (particularly the former), psychosis may emerge, often making it indistinguishable to schizophrenia. Often trivialised in popular culture and trivialised as "just mood swings", it is, in actual fact, one of the most severe psychological conditions and hell on Earth for those who genuinely suffer from this devastating disease, as well as for those around them.

Bipolar disorder is a cruel affliction.

by Doc_B April 13, 2015

Reticent

Used as a descriptive term for someone who takes a moment to warm up in social situations they don’t really want to be in in the first place and prefers not to be spoken to, unless they’re extremely familiar with you.

John: ‘Megan was just sipping Bacardi juice at the back of the room all by herself at that party on Saturday night. She seemed to get on with Amber but she didn’t even utilise the opportunity to cling to that one voluntarily-imposing buddy all night. What on Earth’s wrong with her?’

Chizoba: ‘there’s nothing wrong with her; she’s just the reticent type. Some people are like that, enjoy their own company. She might not walk around glad-handing every new face that she doesn’t technically-need to interact with but once you get to know her and break past her reticence you’ll see that she’s actually a really nice gal. Some people need less social stimulation (outside their tight-knit circles, and even then there might well be limits) than others and that’s absolutely fine. All 7 billion of us can’t be exactly the same and have precisely the same wants and needs. People are different. You’ll realise that as you socially-mature.

by Doc_B August 15, 2022

Anxiety disorder

A type of mental illness in which anxiety is the main feature. Examples include panic disorder, specific phobias, agorophobia, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder.

He has an anxiety disorder.

by Doc_B April 14, 2015