Psy 270 Week 1 Psychology Reflection Paper

Week 1 The most surprising information that I learned this week was just how the profession of being a psychologist is mispresented in the entertainment world of today. Obviously, I am referring to the countless shows and movies that dramatize the profession for the sake of increased ratings or ticket sales. After doing some research, I could find a few exceptions. Reality shows such as “hoarders” or “intervention” portray real situations with real people and real professionals. If you watch these shows alongside the made for TV drama or movies, the difference is clear. One is a true representation of the what it means to be a psychology professional and the other is a fictitious portrayal of an over dramatized character. This being

Specifically, a psychological disorder, I chose PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I chose PTSD because it is something that I have first-hand knowledge of this disorder and I have seen the effects of it on friends and family. The most interesting part of my work this week was learning about the history of PTSD. It is a relatively new disorder and I feel like the we have yet to fully understand the vastness of it’s those who are effect by it. PTSD is in our news quite often; the added attention has made a big difference in the public’s perception of this disorder as well as increased the resources allotted to research and treatment development. In the next 20 years, I can only hope that we make some major strides in the treatment and early diagnosis of PTSD. As I stated in my paper, preventing PTSD is not a realistic goal, but having the necessary resources in place to effectively treat those with this disorder is something I am looking forward to. For my research this week, I used the website NIMH.gov, the National Institute of Mental Health. This website was very informative and help the complete guide the PTSD. From the history to current treatments and medications