Mental Illnesses

1. Mental Illnesses

2. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) • What is it? • Extremely worried about things like health, money, family/friend problems even when there is little or no reason to worry about them • Anxious about getting through the day • Think things will always go badly

3. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) • Signs and Symptoms • Worry very much about everyday things • Have trouble controlling their constant worries • Know that they worry much more than they should • Not able to relax • Have a hard time concentrating • Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep • Have headaches, muscle aches, stomach aches • Be irritable, sweat a lot, and feel light headed

4. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) • What causes it? • Sometimes runs in the family • Several parts of the brain are involved in fear and anxiety • Stress and environmental factors may play a role

5. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) • How is it treated? • Psychotherapy or cognitive behavior therapy • Teaches a person different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations that help him or her feel less anxious and worried • Medication • Anti-anxiety medications • Are powerful and many types begin working right away – but they should not be taken for long periods • Antidepressants • May take several weeks to start working • Side effects  headache, nausea, or difficulty sleeping

6. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) • What is it like to have GAD? • "I was worried all the time about everything. It didn't matter that there were no signs of problems, I just got upset. I was having trouble falling asleep at night, and I couldn't keep my mind focused at work. I felt angry at my family all the time.” • "I saw my doctor and explained my constant worries. My doctor sent me to someone who knows about GAD. Now I am taking medicine and working with a counselor to cope better with my worries. I had to work hard, but I feel better. I'm glad I made that first call to my doctor.” • Royce White: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRUS6QBiViQ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe21L3EnDdE

7. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • What is it? • Anxiety disorder that some people get after seeing or living through a dangerous event • May feel stressed or frightened even when they’re no longer in danger • Who gets it? • Anyone at any age • War veterans, survivors of physical and sexual assault, abuse, accidents, disasters, and many other serious events • Unexpected death of a loved one

8. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Re-experiencing symptoms • Flashbacks, bad dreams, frightening thoughts • Avoidance symptoms • Staying away from places that are reminders of the experience, feeling emotionally numb, feeling strong guilt, depression, or worry, losing interest in activities that were enjoyable • Hyperarousal symptoms • Being easily startled, feeling tense or “on edge,” having difficulty sleeping and/or having angry outbursts

9. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Do children react differently than adults? • Children: • Bedwetting when they do not do so normally, acting out the scary event during playtime, being unusually clingy with a parent or adult • Older children, teens, and adults • Disruptive, disrespectful, or destructive behavior • Feelings of guilt and thoughts of revenge

10. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • How is it detected? • Diagnosed by a doctor such as a psychiatrist or psychologist • To be diagnosed, a person must have all of the following for at least one month • At least 1 re-experiencing symptom • At least 3 avoidance symptoms • At least 2 hyperarousal symptoms

11. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Risk Factors for PTSD • Living through dangerous events • Getting hurt • Seeing people hurt/killed • Having little or no social support after the event • Dealing with extra stress after the event • Resilience factors may reduce the risk of PTSD • Seeking out support from friends and family • Finding a support group after the traumatic event • Having a coping strategy • Being able to act and respond effectively despite feeling fear

12. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • How is it treated? • Psychotherapy (“talk” therapy) • Medications • Combination of both? http://www.medicinenet.com/posttraumatic_stress_disorder_quiz/quiz.htm

13. Social Anxiety • What is it? • People with social phobia are afraid of doing common things in front of other people. For example, they might be afraid to sign a check in front of a cashier at the grocery store, or they might be afraid to eat or drink in front of other people, or use a public restroom. Most people who have social phobia know that they shouldn't be as afraid as they are, but they can't control their fear. Sometimes, they end up staying away from places or events where they think they might have to do something that will embarrass them. For some people, social phobia is a problem only in certain situations, while others have symptoms in almost any social situation.

14. Social Anxiety • Signs and symptoms • Anxious about being with other people and have a hard time talking to them, even though they wish they could • Self-conscious in front of other people and feel embarrassed • Be very afraid that other people will judge them • Worry for days or weeks before an event where other people will be • Stay away from places where there are other people • Have a hard time making friends and keeping friends

15. Social Anxiety • What causes it? • Sometimes runs in families • Several parts of the brain are involved in fear or anxiety • How is it treated? • Psychotherapy: different ways of thinking • Medication: anti-anxiety and antidepressants • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7EAsMNZ6uA