Cognitive Disorder

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Cognitive Disorders

Michael Fred Phelps is an American former competitive swimmer. He is known to be the most successful swimmer of all time. Michael Phelps has twenty-eight medals for this. However, do not think that things were easy for Michael Phelps at any point in life. This is because he was struggling with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) from a very young age. He is a perfect example that ADHD should not deter anyone from being successful in life.

Anyone can get ADHD. In fact, today it is one of the most common conditions that affect children. It may be caused by a number of factors. One of the factors is when one’s part of the brain that control attention and activity cease to function as they should. It is also possible for a child to inherit the condition from the parents (Swanson et al. 2006). Other times one may be get a head injury that may interfere with the part of the brain controlling attention and activity. A child born premature is also more likely to get the condition. Mothers are advised not to take drugs such as nicotine and alcohol as this infects the child by increasing their risk of getting ADHD (Barkley, 2014). For Michael Phelps, there was no obvious cause for his condition. His parents did not have the condition. His mother also did not smoke or drink while she was pregnant.

People with this condition can barely concentrate or have a very low concentration span. They also tend to fidget, repeat their words a lot and be impulsive. Like all other children with ADHD, Michael found it very difficult to concentrate in class. He was constantly finding other things to do. His teachers could not understand him and ended up treating him differently. Other teachers even told him that he would be a failure in life because of his he behaved. Teachers in different grades continued to complain about Michael and how he never seemed to improved in his studies. It was a challenge and struggle for him all through. He was depressed and had anxiety due this condition.

His mother decided to take him to a professional and he was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of nine years old. Phelps started going swimming at an aquatic club nearby. He noticed that he loved doing this. Even though he could not concentrate in class, he was able to concentrate while swimming. He started wining medals at a very young age because he was exceptionally talented.

Much of Michael Phelps success can be attributed to his mother. His mother helped by establishing a routine that was meant to help him in his concentration. She implemented more strategies such as decreasing his intake of sugar that would help him be more successful. Her mother believed that swimming helped him through his condition. By seeking the help of a professional, they advised on how they would manage the condition. Many parents would have stayed silent with their children’s condition due to fear of stigmatization. Michael Phelps also took stimulants to assist him with his concentration in school. He had to carry them to school even though he was not comfortable with this.

Michael Phelps admits that dealing with his condition was not easy at all. He was constantly angry and depressed. In spite of his condition, he believed in himself and pursue his dreams. People should talk more about cognitive disorders and assist those who have the conditions. They can also become successful and happy if they accept who they are and work on themselves every day.

References

Barkley, R. A. (Ed.). (2014). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment. Guilford Publications.

Swanson, J. M., Volkow, N. D., Newcorn, J., Casey, B. J., Moyzis, R., Grandy, D., & Posner, M. (2006). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science.

This short research paper consists of two parts: knowledge of a psychological disorder and a critical

analysis of a movie that portrays a psychological disorder. Movies can provide you with an opportunity to

test what you are learning by critically evaluating the accuracy of the portrayals. You are to choose a

movie in which a psychological disorder is portrayed, making sure to compare, contrast, and discuss the

accuracy of Hollywood?s version of the psychological disorder. The paper should demonstrate your knowledge

and understanding of the disorder. The topic ought to be researched properly, using reputable sources

(books, journals, certain Internet sites, and your textbook). You must use more than one source and you

should not rely on your book. Make sure you discuss your choice of movie and approach to the paper with me

before starting. Your paper will be graded mostly on the depth and accuracy of your analysis, as well as on

the quality of your writing style. When citing sources other than the movie (i.e., definition of the

disorder and issues related to treatment, make sure to include the references, according to APA style.)
Below is a guide to help you think about your paper, your approach to writing, and some questions that you

should consider. By no means are these the only things you should consider. I want you to see the movies

through a psychologist?s eyes and use what you have learned in class to understand all aspects of the

possible disorder, but more importantly to have a solid understanding of the human being who is being

portrayed.
I. State and explain the psychological disorder you will be studying according to the DSM-IV classification

and description given in your book and/or other sources that you will review. Make sure you use your own

words and follow the APA style when referencing the materials.
?A. Your paper should be a critical analysis of a specific disorder, which will include the following:
? Etiology (causes of the illness)
? Course of the illness (age of onset, duration, etc.)
? Criteria for diagnosis and axis in which it is diagnosed, according to the DSM
? Treatment options and probability of recovery.
II. Choose and watch a movie that you feel reflects the diagnosis of which you are writing. Make sure to

give the following information before describing the plot:
? Name of movie, Year movie released, Director (optional)
? Character studied: the name of the character in the film and the actor?s name)
? DSM-IV Disorder portrayed
A. Hollywood?s portrayal of the disorder, aIDressing the following issues or questions:
1. Provide a brief summary of the movie to provide context.
2. What aspects of the disorder were portrayed? How well was the disorder portrayed?
3. Is there a particular scene that is a good portrayal of the disorder?
4. What aspects of etiology (causes) of the disorder or treatment were presented?
5. Could there be elements of more than one diagnosis? How would you go about ?ruling out? another possible

disorder.
6. Were there inaccuracies? Explain.
III. Conclusion ? What do you think about Hollywood portraying psychological disorders?
?A. Given what you now know of the disorder, does the movie or its ending reflect the illness, its

progression, and possibility of recovery?
B. Is this film a good example for students learning about psychological disorders? Why or why not?