School - Course Concept Learning

What are the most important concepts you have learned in this course? How can you apply them to your life? What difference can these concepts or tools make in your everyday life?

I have learned so many important concepts in such a short span it seems! Many of these concepts such as understand disorders like schizophrenia and mania, will be used toward my career path of a psychologist. I was extremely interested in the drugs that are used for these diseases and disorders. It is very helpful in a career like mine to know what your client is on, what it treats and how, but also the negative effects of these drugs. One of these drugs used to treat depression is one that I am on. I am on Effexor which is an inhibitor but not an MAOI. The negative side effects associated with Effexor have made doctors and people wary of using it. The withdrawal symptoms associated with it have even had people staying on the drug.

I will be applying so much of this class to my life. I have loved ones in my life affected by mental illnesses and disorders. I think that understanding that their brain works differently than mine does, helps in understanding how they function as a person. I think that knowing the drugs associated with these disorders also helps because than I know what my loved one is taking. I think that the difference that this class has made in my life has made me open my eyes more. I think that knowing this can make a difference in the way I will be dealing with my loved one. Instead of frustrated and impatient with the way they are behaving, I have an understanding that they can not control how they are acting at that moment.