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Ptsd And Mental Illnesses In Hollywood
Subject
2 May 2015
PTSD and Mental Illnesses in Hollywood
Introduction
Posttraumatic stress disorder has already become a new epidemic. More often than not, PTSD is considered in a military context. That is, combat veterans are believed to develop posttraumatic reactions to their wartime experiences. Meantime, little attention is paid to the issues of stress and PTSD in celebrities and creative people. Anyone who has faced a traumatic event can develop PTSD, regardless of whether such experiences are associated with military tragedies. Creative people are particularly susceptible to stresses that result from traumatizing events. They display higher emotional vulnerability and are more likely to develop intense emotional reactions to even mild stress. The recent tragedy with Robin Williams justifies the importance of the PTSD problem in Hollywood celebrities. The topic area selected for the present annotated bibliography is PTSD in Hollywood stars. The annotated bibliography seeks to answer the following research question: How can Hollywood celebrities reduce the risks of PTSD due to stress and anxiety?
Friedman, Matthew J. "PTSD History and Overview." PTSD: National Center for PTSD, 25 Mar 2014. Web. 2 May 2015.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides a brief but comprehensive insight into the history and diagnosis of Posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as the treatment strategies available to individuals with PTSD. In this article, Friedman pays closer attention to the role of traumatic events in triggering PTSD. The author defines a traumatic event as a catastrophic factor beyond the realm of human control. It opens new venues for the analysis of the catastrophic or stressful events that may or may not lead to PTSD. Friedman also describes the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Still, one of the most interesting aspects of his work is in the analysis of PTSD's neurobiology and long-term manifestations. No less important are the therapeutic approaches to PTSD that Friedman discussed in the selected article. Even though the author mentions PTSD in the context of veterans' affairs, the information he shares with the audience can serve as the starting point in any discussion of PTSD, its causes, diagnosis and prognosis. The discussed work will create the basis for a more thorough analysis of PTSD, its biological and social complexity, its implications for the society, as well as the impacts it could or could not have on Hollywood stars.
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Frueh, Chistopher, Anouk Grubaugh, Jon D. Elhai, & Julian D. Ford. Assessment and Treatment Planning for PTSD. NY: Wiley, 2012. Print.
The book describes a variety of approaches to treating PTSD. It provides a good understanding of PTSD, its symptoms and strategies available to clinicians. Still, the most interesting thing about the book is that discusses the roles of culture in developing, diagnosing, and treating PTSD. This information will help to underline the basic features of the Hollywood culture and its possible effects on the growing prevalence of PTSD in celebrities.
Jaksic, Nenad, Lovorka Brajkovic, Ena Ivezic, Radmila Topic, & Miro Jakovlkevic. "The Role of Personality Traits in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)." Psychiatria Danubina, 24.3 (2012): 256-266. Print.
This scholarly article was presented in a professional medical journal published in Zagreb, Croatia. Nevertheless, it offers a unique and interesting perspective on how various personality dimensions and character traits link to PTSD. The assumption that personality traits can have implications for the development of PTSD challenges a commonly established belief that PTSD is the result of exposure to a major traumatic event. The authors of the selected article suggest that, while millions of people expose themselves to traumatic events on a daily basis, PTSD is still a relatively rare phenomenon. Therefore, one may suggest that personality traits moderate the relationship between traumatic events and PTSD. This being said, Jaksic et al. conducted a systematic search across a number of scholarly databases between 1980 and 2012. Most studies identified as a result of the search utilized longitudinal designs. One of the key findings is that the risks of PTSD increase with the presence of certain character traits, such as neuroticism, negative emotionality, self- transcendence, novelty seeking, and harm avoidance. Anxiety, hostility, and anger also contribute to the development of PTSD. Simultaneously, individuals with high levels of self-directedness, extraversion, and conscientiousness are less susceptible to PTSD. These findings are particularly relevant in the study of PTSD and stress in Hollywood stars. A deeper analysis of their personality traits could be particularly helpful in understanding the real causes underlying their stressful condition. It could also inform future efforts to prevent PTSD.
Parker, Sharon. Movies and the Modern Psyche. NY: Praeger, 2007. Print.
The book was written to explain a complex relationship between movies and psychology. The author describes the most critical reasons why cinema has so tremendous effects on people. The most important concepts described in the book include: psychoanalysis, psychology, behaviors, and hypnosis. The author also examines the brightest features of film therapy. What this book provides is deeper knowledge of the nature of the cinema industry. It offers a better understanding of the complexity of psychological influences from within. The book can be particularly helpful in analyzing the effects of the cinema industry on the celebrities, who actually make it. Thus, it can guide the development of more effective strategies to prevent stress and PTSD in Hollywood stars.
Scott, Thomas, L. "Wayne Brady Admits to Depression, Perhaps Helping Others in Black Community Get Help." Atlantic Black Star, 4 Nov 2014. Web. 2 May 2015.
Wayne Brady is another victim of mental health failures that seem to be haunting Hollywood. This article uncovers the hidden truth about Brady's struggle against depression. Brady says that, like any other person, he has weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Simultaneously, the African-American community still exhibits highly prejudiced attitudes to mental illness. This is probably why Black stars are so reluctant to seek professional assistance, before it is too late. Brady says that the main thing a depressed individual must do is acknowledging that the problem exists and being decisive to deal with it. One of the key strengths of this article is that it confirms the epidemic character of PTSD, by listing a number of Black talents who failed to face the challenge of depression and PTSD and committed suicide. Wayne Brady seems to be a wise choice, when it comes to the analysis of subjective stress experiences, the controversies surrounding public views on PTSD, and the easy ways to ask for help. This information will guide the process of analysis and writing on the topic of PTSD, as it applies to Hollywood talents. It will become an optimistic contrast to the pessimistic story of Robin Williams and his depression, leading to suicide.
Stone, Jeff. "Robin Williams Depression: Comedy, Mental Illness Link Proves Fatal for Many Hollywood Stars." International Business Times, 12 Aug 2014. Web. 2 May 2015.
PTSD is often explored in the context of military experiences and veterans' affairs. Yet, equally important is seeing and understanding the complex effects of PTSD on Hollywood stars. The focus of the article is the figure of Robin Williams, a talented actor who is claimed to have mental illness and depression. Stone cites a recent study, whose results confirm that comedians' creativity and unusual personalities are typically associated with their mental instability. Moreover, schizophrenic psychosis has the potential to become a major driver of artistic creativity in comedians (Stone). The 20th century saw a gradual decline of societal stigmas in relation to mental illness, depression, and PTSD. Still, its deadly effects on talented personalities in Hollywood continue to persist. The figure of Robin Williams is an excellent object of PTSD analysis for the proposed work. It illustrates the difficulties facing contemporary comedians in their mental and emotional struggles. The article will be used to explain the relationship between PTSD, personality traits, and the Hollywood setting. Hopefully, it will also help to prevent similar tragic occurrences in the future.
