Download Chapter 5 - Cabarrus County Schools

Chapter 5
Mental and Emotional Problems
I.
Dealing with Anxiety and Depression
a. Anxiety – the condition of feeling uneasy or worried about what may
happen
b. Depression – a prolonged feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and
sadness
i. Warning signs of depression
1. persistent sad or irritable mood
2. loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
3. significant change in appetite or body weight
4. difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
5. physical signs of nervousness
6. loss of energy
7. feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
8. difficulty concentrating
9. recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
ii. Causes & Effects of Depression
1. changes in thinking
2. changes in feelings: apathy – a lack of strong feeling,
interest, or concern
3. changes in behaviors
iii. Depression is treatable
II.
Mental Disorders
a. Mental disorder – an illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing him or her from
leading a happy, healthful, and productive life
b. Stigma – a mark of shame or disapproval that results in an individual
being shunned or rejected by others
c. Mental disorders ARE medical conditions that require diagnosis and
treatment.
d. Types of Mental Disorders
i. Anxiety disorder - a condition in which real or imagined fears
are difficult to control
1. one of the most common problems among children and
teens
2. people with anxiety disorders try to avoid situations that
make them feel anxious or fearful
Anxiety Disorders
Phobia
A strong irrational fear of something
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Persistent thoughts, fears, or urges
(obsessions) leading to uncontrollable
repetitive behaviors (compulsions)
Panic Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Attacks of sudden, unexplained feelings of
terror – “panic attack”
A condition that may develop after
exposure to a terrifying event. May have
flashbacks, nightmares, emotional
numbness, guilt
Exaggerated worry and tension for no
reason. People are startled easily and have
difficulty concentrating, relaxing, or
sleeping
ii. Impulse Control Disorders
1. cannot resist the urge to hurt themselves or others
2. typically cause physical harm or financial harm
3. disorder starts in childhood
Kleptomania
Cutting
Pyromania
Excessive gambling
Compulsive shopping
Impulse Control Disorders
Unplanned theft of objects
Repetitive cutting on parts of the body that
can be hidden
Setting fires to feel pleasure or release
tension
Continuing to gamble despite heavy losses
Spending money on items you can’t afford
and don’t need
iii. Eating disorders
1. common in teen years
2. types
a. anorexia nervosa
b. bulimia nervosa
c. binge eating
iv. Mood disorders – illness, often with an organic cause, that
involves mood extremes that interfere with everyday living
1. Clinical depression – sadness, hopelessness, despair that
lasts more than 1 month; interferes with daily activities
2. Bipolar disorder – manic/depression, often inherited
v. Conduct disorder – a pattern of behavior in which the rights of
others or basic social rules are violated
1. Males > females
2. Lying, theft, aggression, violence, arson
3. Usually associated with low self esteem
vi. Schizophrenia
1. person looses contact with reality
2. “split mind”
3. behave inappropriate, withdrawal, hallucinate
vii. Personality disorder
1. unable to regulate their emotions
2. Anti-social disorder – conflict with society; cruel, uncaring,
irresponsible, impulsive
3. Borderline personality – experience troubled relationships;
high-risk activity, poor self esteem, fear abandonment,
frequently lash out violently at people they need most
4. Passive aggressive – uncooperative, resent being told what
to do, but rely on others for direction
III.
Suicide Prevention
a. Alienation – feeling isolated/separated from everyone
b. Suicide – the act of intentionally taking one’s life
i. 3rd leading cause of death for teens 15-19
ii. Each year 17% or all teens 15-19 will consider suicide
iii. More than ½ (50%) will attempt
c. Risk factors
i. More than 90% are suffering from depression or another mental
disorder or have a history of abusing alcohol and other drugs
ii. Abuse – substance, sexual, emotional, physical
iii. Prior attempts
d. Cluster suicides – a series of suicides occurring within a short period
of time and involving several people in the same school or community
e. Helping others
i. Initiate meaningful conversation
ii. Show support and ask questions
iii. Persuade to get help
IV.
Getting Help
a. When Help Is Needed
i. Feel trapped with no way out, or worry all the time
ii. Feelings affect activities of daily living
iii. Family and friends express concern about you
iv. Becoming involved with drugs and alcohol
v. Becoming violent or aggressive
b. Professional Help
i. Psychiatrist – MD, Dx/Rx mental disorders, prescribe medication
ii. Neurologist – MD, organic disorders of the brain
iii. Clinical psychologist – Dx/Rx emotional and behavioral disorders,
can not medicate
iv. Counselors – help with educational and personal matters
v. Psychiatric social worker – fieldworker in a mental hospital
vi. School psychologist – specialize in assessment of learning,
emotional, and behavioral problems of school children
c. Therapy methods
i. Psychotherapy – ongoing dialogue between a patient and a
mental health professional
ii. Behavior therapy – treatment process that focuses on changing
unwanted behaviors through rewards and reinforcements
iii. Cognitive therapy – treatment method designed to ID and
correct distorted thinking patterns that can lead to feelings and
behaviors that may be troublesome, self-defeating, or selfdestructive
iv. Family therapy – helping the family function in more positive
and constructive ways
v. Group therapy – treating a group of people who have similar
problems who meet regularly with a trained counselor
vi. Drug therapy - use of certain medications to treat or reduce
symptoms