Savant Syndrome
Savant syndrome is a rare condition where someone with a developmental disorder such as autism has an immense wealth of talent in a specific field. Many savant skills are related to incredible memory-based abilities, like being able to replicate a piece of music on an instrument after hearing it once, being able to remember license plates after seeing them in passing, or having the capacity to draw detailed city skylines from memory. Only around ten percent of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder are reported to have some kind of savant skills, with the rate being 1 in 100 for individuals with other intellectual/developmental disorders.
Some famous examples of people with savant syndrome include: Ellen Boudreuax, a visually impaired woman with the ability to replicate any musical piece she’s ever heard and to tell time down to the second without a clock, and Kim Peek, a man known as a “megasavant” with the ability to calculate with both hemispheres of his brain simultaneously, giving him the ability to read and memorize two books at the same time.
Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is a mental health condition that contains the symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder. Schizophrenia affects how the world is perceived, while mood disorders affect feelings and behaviors. As a combination of the two types of disorders, schizoaffective disorder has both the characteristic hallucinations and delusions of schizophrenia and the depressive feelings and low energy of some mood disorders. In some cases, people with schizoaffective disorder may also experience mania, or periods of high energy, euphoria, and increased irritability along with depressive episodes, resulting in a disorder reminiscent of bipolar disorder.
Schizoaffective disorder is very rare, with only around 0.3% of adults being diagnosed with it within their lifetimes. This could be due to how difficult the disorder is to diagnose, as many who could potentially have the disorder may receive a diagnosis for bipolar disorder or schizophrenia instead. Some potential causes of schizoaffective disorder include genetics and chemical changes in the brain. The use of psychedelics or hallucinogens may also induce schizoaffective disorder in those genetically predisposed to it.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that changes how a person perceives reality and interacts with others. It is characterized by hallucinations (false experiences), delusions (false beliefs), and paranoia (the feeling that others are conspiring against you). People with schizophrenia may have disorganized speaking patterns or exhibit little to no emotion when interacting with others.
The exact causes of schizophrenia aren’t known, but researchers believe that it develops partly because of chemical imbalances in the brain and genetic predisposition (if someone else in your family has schizophrenia). There are also environmental risk factors for schizophrenia, like poor nutrition or pre-birth exposure to illness. Treatment for schizophrenia includes talk therapy, anti-psychotic medication, and support groups.
Seasonal Depressive Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression, is a mood disorder caused by the changing of seasons from summer to autumn. It has similar symptoms to major depressive disorder, with milder symptoms occurring at the start of fall that get worse during the winter. There is a much rarer form of seasonal depression called “summer depression” that takes place when the days get warmer and longer. This does not change the expression of symptoms at all; just the time period in which they begin and end.
Many people report feeling a mild form of seasonal affective disorder known as “winter blues”. The winter blues are relatively common, with around 10-20% of the U.S. population getting them every year. In contrast, only around 5% of people in the U.S. are diagnosed with seasonal depression. The winter blues are not an official diagnosis, so a lot of statistics regarding the condition are based on personal accounts. However, it is reasonable to assume the change in weather, decreased sunlight exposure, and shorter days would lead to low mood and energy for a sizable chunk of the population.
Sex assigned at birth
Assigned sex at birth (ASAB) refers to a person’s sex, derived shortly after birth using physical sex characteristics like genitalia. The majority of people’s assigned sex at birth matches their gender identity; this is referred to as being cisgender. People who are not cisgender (i.e. transgender and nonbinary people) have an assigned sex at birth that does not match with their gender identity. In the case of people with sex characteristics that don’t represent the gender binary (i.e. intersex people), the designation is made at the discretion of the present medical staff.
The purpose of referring to someone’s sex at birth as “assigned” is to acknowledge the lack of choice in the sex listed on their birth certificate. Someone else, most likely a doctor, assigned each person’s sex at birth made solely off of physical characteristics. While this statistically aligns with the majority of people’s gender identities, it is important to prioritize recognizing someone’s preferred gender identity over their assigned sex at birth, as they have agency in deciding the former for themselves.
Sexism
Sexism is prejudice or discrimination based on one’s sex or gender, mostly against women. Like most forms of bigotry, it can be interpersonal or institutional. Regardless of the form it takes, it is rooted in the belief that one sex is inherently superior to another. The purpose of sexism against women and girls is to maintain patriarchy, or a society dominated by males. Since most modern societies are patriarchal, sexism generally refers to the social, economical, and political oppression of women and girls.
The extreme version of sexism is called misogyny, or the hatred of women. While sexism usually refers to the socioeconomic disadvantages women have when interacting with others or institutions, misogyny carries a violent connotation. A misogynistic society is one that not only holds women back from participating in its systems, but implicitly (or explicitly) perpetuates and encourages violence and abuse against women.
Sexual Minority
A sexual minority is someone whose sexual orientation differs from what is considered the norm in a given society. Modern Western culture is quite heteronormative, so the sexual minorities in this case would be those who identify as gay, bisexual, lesbian, etc. Younger generations are more likely to identify as a sexual minority. This is most likely because of the reduced stigma around being LGBTQIA+ allowing more people to openly identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, etc.
The term “sexual minority” does not refer to people whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth. “Sexual minority” specifically refers to a person’s sexual orientation, so transgender and nonbinary individuals are not inherently considered sexual minorities. To rectify this, the term “sexual and gender minority (SGM)” was coined to be more inclusive to all people under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella who have to deal with the prejudice and discrimination that comes with being queer in a hetero/cisnormative society.
Sexual Orientation
A person’s sexual orientation determines who they are sexually (and often romantically) attracted to. Sexual orientation doesn’t necessarily denote romantic attraction; they just happen to be the same for the majority of people. For example, someone can identify as homoromantic heterosexual, which means they only form romantic bonds with people of the same gender, but are sexually attracted to people of the opposite gender.
Today, there are many different sexual orientations, with more being conceived frequently to address different gaps in representation. Among the most common are heterosexuality (being attracted to a different gender), homosexuality (being attracted to the same gender), and bisexuality (being attracted to both the same gender and different genders than your own). Although being transgender is often included in the same conversation, it is not a sexual orientation; it is a gender identity, relating to who someone is rather than who they are attracted to.
Shame
Shame is a painful feeling that arises as a result of a negative evaluation of one’s self. It is normal to experience shame every once in a while, but chronic shame can cause psychological issues, low self-esteem, and negative self-talk. Shame is quite similar to guilt, which arises as a result of committing some wrongdoing and feeling regret for it. The difference between shame and guilt is that shame does not require any wrongdoing; one can feel shame from being made fun of for an interest of theirs or an aspect of their personality.
There are two types of shame: trait shame and state shame. Trait shame is an enduring feeling of negativity regarding a specific aspect of one’s self. The shame could stem from one’s physical appearance, a medical issue, insecurities about one’s voice, etc. On the other hand, state shame is temporary and based on a specific moment of embarrassment. As the name suggests, the shame is tied to the state the shameful party is in, and not a trait inherent to their personality.
Specific Learning Disorder
Specific learning disorder (SLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes issues with math, reading, or writing. These issues do not stem from a lack of effort or talent, but instead from abnormalities in how the brain processes information. SLD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder, with it being diagnosed in around 5% of children worldwide. SLD can be broken up into three disorders: dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, relating to reading, writing, and math respectively. Of these disorders, the most commonly diagnosed is dyslexia, which accounts for around 80% of all learning disorder diagnoses in the U.S.
Like most neurodevelopmental disorders (and developmental disorders in general), a majority of diagnoses for SLD occur during childhood and adolescence. This is because neurodevelopmental disorders are most likely present since birth, but are only noticed when a child starts to learn through academic means. The assessment of a child’s performance in school is often where the first signs of a neurodevelopmental disorder like SLD appear, even though the disorder was technically always present in the child’s life.
Speedball
A speedball is a mixture of both heroin (a depressant opioid) and cocaine (a stimulant). This enhances the effects of both drugs while significantly increasing the risk of overdose. A speedball can be injected intravenously or snorted, but the risk of overdose remains high regardless of the method used. Users of speedball report longer-lasting and more intense highs than when either drug is taken alone. There is also a misconception that the side effects of both drugs cancel each other out, but this is not the case.
The reason why speedball is so dangerous is because of how stimulants and depressants interact in the body. Heroin, a depressant opioid, is infamous for slowing one’s breathing, which reduces the amount of oxygen that enters the body. Cocaine, on the other hand, is a stimulant which increases heart rate and causes rapid breathing, necessitating the circulation of more oxygen than required when sober. The combination of both drugs makes it exceptionally difficult for the body to process either, as each substance requires completely opposite actions from the lungs, heart, and brain. This results in frequent overdoses, mostly due to the overconsumption of heroin.
Stimulants
Stimulants are substances that increase activity in the central nervous system, causing feelings of high energy, confidence, and alertness while reducing appetite. There are many different kinds of stimulants with a wide range of potency and legality. For example, the most commonly used stimulant in the world is caffeine, which is legal and easily available due to its low potency. However, stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine are predominantly misused for illicit purposes, reflecting their high potency and potential for addiction.
To dive further in depth on how stimulants work, they interact with neurotransmitters in the brain known as norepinephrine and dopamine. Norepinephrine helps control blood pressure and heart rate, while dopamine affects the brain’s reward system. Given how they impact brain activity, stimulants carry a very high potential for abuse. The dopamine released by stimulant use directly incentivises further abuse, and the overactivation of norepinephrine caused by repeated use could result in dizziness, abdominal cramps, and even heart failure. For this reason, it is extremely important to take only the dosage prescribed for prescription stimulants, and to practice care when dealing with the nonprescription variety.
Stress
Stress is the body’s natural reaction to changes in an environment or difficult experiences. When a person experiences a stressful situation, their body’s “fight-or-flight” system activates and increases the production of cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones increase brain activity, alertness, and productivity, but also cause excessive sweating and jitters. Everyone gets stressed sometimes, so having a moderate amount of stress is normal; it only becomes an issue when stress is chronic and stressful situations are constant. Chronic stress comes with all sorts of negative physical and mental health effects, including poor sleep, headaches, frequent nausea, chest pains, anxiety and depression.
Stress is often conceptualized as a pure negative given how uncomfortable it is to feel stressed out. However, there is such a thing as good stress, or rather, situations where stress can be a good thing. Good stress has the same physical effects as bad stress with an actual goal to channel the excess adrenaline and cortisol towards. This is the type of stress that allows people to work extra hard to meet a deadline or study for an exam.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood is prevented from reaching the brain, depriving it of oxygen and essential nutrients. There are two main types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes account for around 85% of all recorded strokes, and they happen when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain. This stops blood from passing through the vessel and deprives the brain of oxygen as a result. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. The resulting blood can put undue pressure on the areas surrounding the vessel, damaging the entire brain as a result.
Strokes are the second leading cause of death in the world, but even if they don’t kill, they can have lasting consequences. Only a couple of minutes without oxygen in the brain can lead to permanent brain damage or loss of feeling in the limbs. With how dangerous strokes can be, it is extremely important to seek medical attention if there is any indication that a loved one is experiencing one. Signs of a stroke include sudden lateral numbness in face, limbs, and body, partial or complete blindness, difficulty speaking, loss of coordination, and intense headaches with no known origin.
Substance
A substance is anything that can be consumed, injected, inhaled, or otherwise absorbed into the body that has psychoactive (affecting a person’s mood, behavior, or thought patterns) effects. Substances can be legal or illicit, natural or synthesized. Common substances include caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, and opioids. Substances are not necessarily drugs even though the terms are often used synonymously, as there are other things that have psychoactive effects on the brain.
Substance Intoxication
Intoxication is a state of mental and physical impairment following the consumption of a psychoactive substance. The length of each intoxication period depends on a person’s age, medical history, substance tolerance, and amount taken. Substances that can cause intoxication include alcohol, marijuana, stimulants, opioids, and inhalants. Generally, substances taken in moderation will lead to a temporary period of intoxication that results in little to no negative side effects down the line.
In some cases, overconsumption of substances like alcohol can lead to moderate or severe intoxication. In the case of alcohol, severe intoxication lasts longer, is more intense, and results in more fatal accidents than mild or moderate intoxication. For substances like opioids, however, severe intoxication can result in an opioid overdose, a condition with a much higher mortality rate than alcohol poisoning. While all forms of intoxication have their risks, it is especially important to be cognizant of the dangers of opioid overdoses
Substance Use Disorder
Substance use disorder (SUD), formerly known as drug addiction, is characterized by the inability to self-regulate substance use. Substances that can be responsible for SUD include caffeine, alcohol, stimulants, and opioids. Of these substances, alcohol is the most common cause of SUD due to its legality, and opioids are the most fatal given the high mortality rate of opioid overdoses.
Many substances that can cause substance use disorder work by forcing the release of dopamine, the brain’s feel-good chemical. The feeling granted by releasing dopamine only lasts a short while, which incentivizes the frequent use of the feel-good substance. This results in a cycle of taking substances to chase the dopamine releases, and then taking more to avoid the discomfort of the comedown. People caught in this cycle will often begin deprioritizing their health, relationships, and finances to get more of the substance they’re addicted to.
Suicidal Ideation
Suicidal ideation, often referred to as suicidal thoughts, are recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. These thoughts can vary widely in intensity, fluctuate with time, and tend to worsen in stressful situations. People with depression and other depressive mental disorders are at a higher risk for suicidal ideation. It is also more common in people below the age of 18, with an estimated 18% of minors in the U.S. experiencing suicidal ideation at some point in their lives.
Even though suicidal ideation is not a definitive measure of someone’s likelihood to attempt suicide, it is important to take any thoughts of suicide seriously. It is impossible to determine if someone’s thoughts of suicide will result in an attempt, so it is best to err on the side of caution and seek professional help as early as possible. Treatment for suicidal ideation includes therapy and potentially medication, only if prescribed by your doctor as self-medication can make thoughts of suicide worse. If you (or a loved one) live in the U.S. and experience suicidal ideation, you can call 988 to get over the phone support from professionals through the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.