Consciousness is not only the ability to control actions and evaluate one’s and others’s actions, but also many other components, for example, self-awareness, the ability to control one’s movements, etc. Everyone has it, but few people think about its importance. Impaired consciousness is a very complex and problematic condition. Everything is subject to it, but there are some special cases when the risk of such a violation is great.
A special place should be given to old age, when the brain gradually loses the ability to function normally. This condition is called senile senility. But this condition also has its reasons. The main causes that cause impaired consciousness:
- Diffuse 2-sided damage to the brain (cortex). Usually caused by circulatory disturbances in the cortex or in the terminal state of degenerative diseases. This condition is usually called vegetative.
- Various lesions of the brain stem. Primary (diseases and disorders occurring directly in the brain) and secondary (violations of the integrity of blood vessels or the nutrition of the brain stem) are possible. Sometimes this condition can become irreversible.
- A violation of consciousness that occurs with a combination of the above reasons. In this case, both the cortex and the brain stem are not able to function normally.
As a result of these and some other factors, various conditions can occur that accompany a violation of consciousness. The treatment of these problems is quite long and problematic, because in many cases, irreversible processes occur. Depending on the problems, these types of impaired consciousness are distinguished:
ü Clouding of consciousness. Usually, it occurs due to the organic nature of brain damage. Various options are possible:
- Illusory-hallucinatory delirium. It is expressed in a decrease in reactions to stimuli and a decrease in the threshold of sensitivity.
- Abortive. It is characterized by illusions while maintaining a general orientation.
- Mussive. It manifests itself as a mumble and sorting out their own clothes.
- Professional. In this case, the patient presents himself at work and performs actions brought to automatism. Accompanied by a violation of orientation.
ü Onyroid. In the patient’s mind, his own reality is created, which he takes for real, however, he only observes what is happening. Orientation in space and time is broken.
ü Amentia. This condition occurs against the background of schizophrenia and intoxication. Its manifestations consist of chaotic actions and the excitability of these movements, incoherent speech and disorientation in space.
ü Turning off consciousness.
- Stunned. The main problem is the slowdown of all mental reactions and, as a result, a small reaction to pathogens and irritants.
- Sopor. Adequate information is not transmitted from the auditory and visual receptors. Tactile sensations and response to pain persists. In this case, a person is either completely immobilized or capable of stereotypic movements.
- Coma. The most complex and deep state, which is characterized by a complete absence of reactions with preservation of only interoception (natural needs of the body). After awakening from this condition, complete amnesia is possible. If a person does not leave this state, then after a while death occurs.
ü Paroxysmal disturbances of consciousness. It differs from the others in the absence of phasing in pathologies.
- Twilight dullness. Usually, this condition is the privilege of alcoholics or patients with epilepsy. It is characterized by sharp spikes of increased excitability and rage with possible hallucinations. People in these conditions are uncontrollable. After a seizure, amnesia sets in.
- Outpatient automatism. The peculiarity is the desire to move somewhere on urgent matters, chaotic movements or more ordered ones (for example, trance) are possible.
ü Special types of impaired consciousness. Manifested in the form of actions before an epileptic seizure or loss of consciousness. The duration of such conditions does not exceed several seconds.
ü Turning off of consciousness at small or big convulsive seizures. Large convulsive seizures or BLB are instantaneous with the onset of a coma. After comes amnesia. Small convulsive seizures (SMEs) also occur instantly, but are characterized by a sharp decline in muscle tone (sometimes even accompanied by involuntary urination), convulsions of the body or its parts and face are possible. Also, the onset of epilepsy or schizophrenia with past brain injuries is not ruled out. It is in this state that self-consciousness is often violated.
In addition, there is a special kind of disturbed psychological state. It is called depersonalization (violation of self-consciousness). These are quite difficult cases when a person is not able to adequately evaluate and identify with the surrounding world and people. There may also be states of detachment and a decreased reaction and feelings in general, or disturbances in individual processes occurring in the body (for example, denial of satiety). Not infrequently, cases of split personality are recorded .
In conclusion, I want to say that all conditions are quite serious and unpleasant. But we are all “Hailing from childhood,” as Antoine de Saint-Exupery said. Therefore, take care of your children and yourself for them!