Saturday, September 11, 2010

Anosognosia


The above images are the inside and outside of a famous architect's house that I saw last month. Without trespassing, I couldn't get a clear short of the front showing the chain link fence decorations. The inside kitchen looks interesting. These are from the web.

I learned a new word this week: Anosognosia. Not sure if I can pronounce it but it means the denial that one has a disease or condition to oneself. It is common to both people who have schizophrenia or depression. Now I can understand why someone with schizophrenia might deny their condition: the very disease consists of an altered reality but depression? I could see denying it to others but to oneself?

Back at work, we were far removed from the patients. Their diseases were a mess of receptors, enzymes, neurotransmitters. To put a human face on why we were doing the work (other than to give a return on their investment to our stockholders), we would meet patients occasionally. The last patient encounter sesssion was 'manic depression' day. This condition is not served well with traditional antidepressives but the patient often presents as a 'regularly' depressed patient. The patient never shows up in their manic state as they feel too good. However the manic state is observed by others. The histories given by the patient differed quite a bit from that of their family member. Anosognosia at work.

It will rain with in the next hour  for the first time in around 10 days. Steve and I took a walk in the neighborhood last night. Since the recession, upkeep on houses is declining. Last spring, there were two fires in our neighborhood in a weeks times. Neither house has been repaired completely. The dryer lint fire house has no roof or any tarp to protect the insides. Work is still in progress with the lightning strike house. Our street has been particularly unlucky with lightning strike fires.

No comments:

Followers

Blog Archive