Eric Hutchinson

I've had this blog for a while now, and all of the posts I've ever posted have sounded more like middle school notes you pass around on the folded notebook paper. Needless to say, I deleted most of them, except for the one about Eric Hutchinson. Why you may ask? Well, because he was my favorite artist back in 2008 and he remains my favorite artist to this day.

Eric Hutchinson is this great singer/songwriter from D.C. I would classify his music as pop/rock/folk. Most of the songs on his debut album, Sounds Like This, sound the same, but that's the best part, because if you hear one song and like it, you'll love the rest of his music.

His new album, Moving Up, Living Down, will be released on April 17th, and I could not be more excited. He's released his first single called "Watching You Watch Him" and it is wonderful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ddz7MZCMG8 -- Here's a link to the song. Check it out!

The 2011-2012 school year is my freshman year of college at UNC, and I have loved every minute of it. However, I cannot wait for the summer. One of my main reasons for my excitement would have to be Eric Hutchinson's concert for his new album in Charlotte. I've got my tickets and cannot wait to hear him live. I hope to make a post with lovely pictures once I go.

If you have never heard of Eric Hutchinson, please from a devoted Hutchhead, look him up and buy his album!

Unit 2 Feeder 2 - Blog Post

Schizophrenia: A Common Misconception

When you think of schizophrenia, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Multiple personalities is the most likely answer you’llget from someone in America. However, schizophrenia is not multiple personality disorder, yet many people perceive it that way.

A few misconceived depictions of schizophrenia:

Schizophrenia can be classified “as a psychotic disorder” (Haycock, 2010). This disorder begins in the brain. Whether it is caused mainly by genetics or environmental factors is uncertain, but researchers have determined that these are the likely causes.

Most people in the US confuse schizophrenia with Multiple Personality Disorder (also known as Dissociative Identity Disorder). “MPD is considered a developmental disorder” (Haycock, 2010) and stems mainly from trauma, mostly during childhood.

Many scientists think that the main difference between schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder is that you are not born with MPD.

People that are affected by MPD “have at least two and often more distinct identity states which each have fairly consistent patterns of relating to the environment” (Haycock, 2010). These people have created identity states that are a type of coping mechanism to deal with trauma in their environment.

People affected with schizophrenia can sometimes hear voices in their head, but it's never classified as a personality that they take on. The voices are referred to as auditory hallucinations, however they aren't a separate personality. Also, people affected with schizophrenia will also experience other symptoms such as visual hallucinations, delusions, “disordered thinking, decreased attention span, and problems with focusing” (Madison).

The question at hand still remains the same. Why do people confuse schizophrenia with multiple personality disorder? Well, the thought is mainly “based on the name. If you go to the Greek roots of the word—schizein, meaning splitting and phren, meaning mind—you have ‘split brain’ or ‘split mind.’ However, the intended reference is to a split between rationality and emotions, not a split within a personality” (Haycock, 2010).

I think that psychologists should make an initiative to educate people not only about the differences between schizophrenia and MPD, but about the struggles that these patients face on a daily basis. Many people with mental disorders feel as people are less willing to help them, versus if they had a physical disease, such as cancer. I think that people should start getting the word out about mental illnesses and help make a difference in the lives that these disorders affect.

References:

Haycock, D. A. (2010, Oct 26). What is the difference between schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder?. Retrieved from http://rps.psu.edu/probing/schizophrenia.html

Madison, N., & Harris, B. What is the Difference Between Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder?. Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-schizophrenia-and-multiple-personality-disorder.htm

BEST ARTIST EVER

Eric Hutchinson is officially my new favorite artist (besides Rob Pattinson). His CD Sounds Like This is really really good. I advise you to listen to it. My favorite songs on the CD are: OK, It's Alright With Me, Rock & Roll, Food Chain, Outside Villanova, and Oh!.

His songs are very catchy and I find myself singing them. I wish I could find the sheet music for his songs, but the only one I could find was Rock & Roll. 

If I can, I will try to put up some of his music.

Well, it's late and I'm going to bed. :)