by Steve Lowry 106 Replies latest jw friends
Oh well, just tear down the curtains!
Tagline: Sooner Or Later They Will Find You. (more) Plot Outline: A woman who lives in a darkened old house with her two photosensitive children becomes convinced that her family home is haunted. (more) (view trailer) |
Tactile hallucinations:
Auditory hallucinations:
Visual hallucinations:
Olfactory hallucinations:
Definitions Mania is a state of heightened energy and euphoria - an elevation of mood. It is in direct contrast to depression. Mania can vary in severity from hypomania, where, in addition to mood and energy elevation, the person shows mild impairment of judgement and insight, to severe mania with delusions and a level of manic excitement that can be so exhausting that hospitalisation is required to control the episode.
The mood, energy and other related symptoms define both mania and hypomania, with psychotic features being an 'add on' component experienced by a sub-set of individuals. Read about psychotic features.
Our research has identified six principal features of hypomania and mania: high energy levels, positive mood, irritability, inappropriate behaviour, creativity and mystical experiences.
1. High Energy Levels:
we believe this to be the key feature underlying all states of hypomania and mania. High energy levels are indicated by the individual feeling 'wired' and 'hyper'; finding that their thoughts race; feeling extremely energetic and making decisions in a flash; talking more and talking over people; racing from plan to plan and being constantly on the go; and describing the need for less sleep without feeling tired.
2. Positive Mood:
the positive or hedonistic mood is reflected in descriptions such as feeling confident and capable; being extremely optimistic; feeling that one can succeed in everything; being more creative; and perhaps feeling 'high as a kite'.
3. Irritability:
is reflected in irritable, impatient and angry behaviours.
4. Inappropriate Behaviour:
can be reflected by becoming over-involved in other people's activities; by increased risk taking (including increased consumption of alcohol and drugs, getting a tattoo impulsively, and gambling excessively); saying and doing somewhat outrageous things; spending more money; having increased libido and getting into relationships that are later regretted; and dressing more colourfully and with disinhibition.
5. Creativity:
can be experienced as 'seeing things in a new light'; 'seeing things vividly and with crystal clarity'; finding one's senses are heightened; and feeling quite capable of writing the 'great Australian novel'.
6. Mystical Experiences:
can be experienced by believing that there are special connections between events; that there is a higher rate of coincidences between things happening; feeling one with nature in terms of appreciating the beauty and the world around, and believing that things have special significance.
Delusions (fixed, false, irrational or illogical beliefs) and hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or sensing things without there being a stimulus to cause them) can sometimes occur when someone is experiencing an acute manic episode. They can also occur during a severe episode of melancholic depression in people with Bipolar Disorder, with delusions being a much more common occurrence than hallucinations. These symptoms are commonly referred to as 'psychotic' symptoms and when they occur with other manic symptoms (as outlined above) indicate that the person has a Bipolar I Disorder. Psychotic symptoms are not seen in hypomania, the key defining mood state of Bipolar II Disorder.
The presence of psychotic symptoms needs to be taken seriously as they reflect a serious episode and the likely need for that person to be admitted into hospital for close monitoring and urgent treatment. If there is a lot of support available by family and/or a community mental health team this can sometimes be avoided. However, a person experiencing these symptoms needs a quiet, calm and controlled environment to keep them safe and this can be hard to achieve in the home environment. The risk is that the person acts on a delusional belief (e.g. they believe they have the ability to fly and them try to jump out of a tenth floor window) which then puts them, or another person in danger. Delusional beliefs are by definition, fixed and held absolutely so that even repeated and persuasive attempts by others to prove that the belief is false, fail.
The types of delusions that can occur during a manic episode are:
| Grandiose delusions: | Persecutory delusions: |
|---|---|
In this type of delusion the person believes that they possess special and unique gifts or powers that others don't have, or that they have access to information that is hidden to others. This type of delusion is the most characteristic of a mania and is said to be 'mood congruent'. Examples: Having a belief that they are a king, are really Jesus, or that they can cure the sick, that they are really a multi-millionaire or that they have the power of telepathy. | In this type of delusion the person believes that people are after him or her, that something really bad is about to happen to them or to someone they know. Although it can occur in mania, this type of delusion can also be seen in other psychotic illnesses and is therefore not diagnostic of Bipolar disorder per se. Example: Believing people are following as they walk down the street, or that someone is out to hurt them or someone they know. |
Hallucinations are also seen in mania and they can occur in any sense organ (i.e. hearing, taste, sight, sensation). The commonest hallucinations occurring in mania are auditory. Sometimes the experience of having hallucinations can propel the person to seek an explanation for their presence and this can fuel the development of a delusional belief. The different types of hallucinations that can occur are shown below:
Hearing things (e.g. sounds of footsteps or voices). These can be a single voice or several, male or female, be familiar or unfamiliar. The voice(s) can call the person's name, tell them to do things, comment on what the person is doing, or if more than one voice, can talk to each other about the person. Hallucinations are normally perceived as coming from outside the person's head but occasionally people hear them inside the head (similar to the person's own thoughts).
Smelling things. Can be pleasant or unpleasant. This can be a signal that there is another physical problem and would warrant a through physical examination and review by a specialist physician.
Having unusual tastes in the mouth. Again this can be a signal that they is another physical problem and would warrant a through physical examination and review by a specialist physician.
Feeling sensations on the skin (e.g. something is crawling over them). Again this can be a signal that there is another physical problem and would warrant a through physical examination and review by a specialist physician. Commonly this occurs in a drug withdrawal state.
These are feeling sensations deep within the body and can be very unpleasant.
Seeing things that aren't really there (e.g. seeing people or shadows). They can become quite complex with people seeing whole scenes but are uncommon in 'pure' mania and are more commonly associated with some underlying physical or organic problem..
http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/bipolar/explained/maniahypomania.cfm#Hallucinations
I have a relative that believes that someone is stealing her underwear. I don't know if it is because she is misplacing them or if someone is actually stealing her underwear. She lives alone.
Tell them that they have crossed and it is time to move on, as the living need to move on without their interference. Also, consider a Pendulum or a Seance.
My suggestion is that you not only cleanse your apartment of anything that happens to be lingering around, you bless it and claim it as your space. It's not rocket science. As it's *your* home you certainly have the authority to do this yourself (whatever your religious belief).
First Clean the place. Literally. Clean all the surfaces you can, mop the floors, clean all the rooms, scrub the toilet, vacuuume, etc. (by doing this you are not only physically cleaning, you're using the power of your subconscious).
I'm fond of "write your own" ceremonies (they don't have to be particularly formal, mine never are), using stuff that makes sense to *you*. You can either do the ceremony by yourself, have your daughter help (good as she was afraid), or invite like-minded friends over and turn it into a party (always fun if they won't think you're strange).
THe basic structure is this:
Suggestions:
banishing: open all the doors and windows you can to allow things to 'escape', move counterclockwise throughout the home, sweeping (New broom) the old, unwanted stuff away as you go, 'sweep' from inside to out, all the doors and windows; also good for banishing is noise (kids like this) noisemakers, banging on pots and pans, etc...pretend you're chasing or driving the old, negative, unwanted stuff out
For the rest of the ceremony, actions move clockwise, the direction of bringing in and welcoming
cleansing: candles, incense (the type your church uses if you're Christian and they have one), holy water if you're Catholic, Sage and Sweetgrass (burn the actual leaves [ps-not culinary sage, you can buy bundles of sage to burn]); I personally cleanse with
fire and air: incense or sage - 'smudge' the rooms, esp the doors and windows
earth and water: water mixed with salt (earth) - sprinkle it on stuff, esp the doors and windows
Claiming: mark your territory as you see fit. I have a friend that loves special stones and uses them to mark the boundaries of her space, be creative. I don't recommend doing it the way dogs do, though...
Good advice Asleif. I have a question though: Why salt or sage for charging? I'm confused because I was taught that they are neutralizing and cleansing, not charging, I was also taught that the scents used for re-charging your room or yourself would be cinnamon and rose--among others. It's always worked for me. Mind over matter?
I can't really think of much of anything I have strict rules for.
I take to heart the phrase, "the power's in the witch, not the wand" so, for me, the important thing is what the symbol, color, item or action 'conjurs up' for me, personally. This can be different things at different times. I wasn't taught any particular tradition. I prefer to use things that are going to work with what's already in my conscious and subconscious rather than 're-learning' to associate colors, scents or items according to how someone else does it.
That being said, though, I usually agree with the correspondences of the more traditional...I just don't spend lots of times looking around in books digging up references for what you're "supposed" to use or have, or how things 'must' be done. Definitely more of a kitchen witch than ceremonial magician! Now, if I want something to "feel" special I will do a little research for maybe an herbal incense, or something like that, on the principle that going to the extra effort will make it more meaningful.
I find the experience of a ritual to be much more powerful if I draw on personal experiences and emotions. Scent, in particular, is a very powerful memory tool. Perhaps there was some special scent I associate with the happiest times in childhood, where I felt safe and cared for...I would use that scent to re-charge rather than what someone else told me I was "supposed" to use. Make sense? Nothing wrong with the thing you're "supposed" to use, just that the other would make for a more effective ritual (IMHO).
I'm a bit confused, though...I double checked and I did say salt & water and incense for cleansing...
And it occurs to me that I forgot something...there can be a place in the house blessing/cleansing where you welcome (only the) good, positive things/energies in...I'd probably do it after I claimed the space.
Let me reiterate...I don't think any of this type of thing is just for a particular religious belief or spirituality. In fact, I don't believe in the 'supernatural'...I believe that what some people call supernatural is in fact just plain natural (ie-if in fact harm comes to a loved one a thousand miles away and you know it immediately, it's a natural and not a 'supernatural' phenomenon). If something works, it works...for Pagans, Christians, Jews...whatever. Stuff like "holy water" and incense has been used by countless different religions. For whatever reason (psychology, spirituality) it certainly seems to keep doing the trick.
As for the breathing, you were just hearing yourself or the kids.
I take it you're joking Warlock. As I said, not an experience I'd like to repeat. Maybe I will go back.
