Aura Marie G.

Fijer Abnormal Psychology

3rd year Bs-Psychology

Video Reflection:

The videos that I watched about somatic disorders were very interesting and informative.
I have a lot of takeaways from the two videos. First, I learned that somatic symptom disorder is a
mental health condition that is characterized by persistent physical symptoms that cannot be
explained by a medical condition. The symptoms can vary widely from person to person, To be
easily explained, It was characterized into two: involuntary and voluntary. Their difference was
the patient's level of conscious control over the symptoms. In involuntary the disorder was
characterized by either physical symptoms, neurological symptoms, or illness anxiety. On the
other hand, voluntary disorders are characterized by symptoms that the patient can consciously
control, this include: Factitious disorder and Malingering. They said that there is no
one-size-fits-all treatment, but typically it involves psychotherapy and proper medication.

On the content wise, The presenter's engaging and approachable style made the video
accessible to a wide audience, which is important especially when discussing mental health
topics. I’m glad that they provide helpful tips for healthcare providers on how to work with
patients with somatoform disorders. It is important to validate the patient's symptoms and to
avoid accusing them of being dishonest or attention-seeking. Instead, healthcare providers should
focus on helping the patient to understand and manage their condition.

Move on to the next video, which is all about Dissociative Disorders by Dr. Donelly
Snipes. She tackles that Dissociative Disorders are characterized by a disruption in the normal
integration of various aspects of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body
representation, motor control, and behavior. She mentioned that Dissociative amnesia is
highlighted as a condition distinct from medical issues, substance use disorders, and even
PTSD-related memory problems. To make a diagnosis, she said that it is crucial to ensure that
forgetfulness causes significant distress or impairment in the individual's life. The concept of
dissociative fugue is introduced, describing situations where individuals suddenly leave familiar
surroundings with no memory of how they got to a new place, contrasting it with common
experiences like "highway hypnosis."

On the other hand, I've learned that Depersonalization and Derealization disorders
involve feelings of detachment from one's thoughts, feelings, actions, or surroundings. These
experiences are typically distinguishable from reality, even when they feel surreal. It's noted that
while substances, particularly hallucinogens, can trigger these sensations, when there's no
substance use history, alternative explanations should be explored.
Overall, These presentations really help me in understanding the concept of somatic and
dissociative disorders. I would highly recommend these presentations as they are informative,
engaging, and thought-provoking.