Mental Disorders

1. Mental Disorders An illness that affects the mind and reduces a person’s ability to function, to adjust to change, or to get along with others.

2. Causes of Mental Disorders • Physical Factors- Damage to the brain-growth or tumor-prolonged use of drugs or alcohol. • Heredity- Disorders may be inherited. • Early childhood experiences- ex; a child who is neglected or abused. • Recent experiences- ex; death of a loved one.

3. Anxiety Disorders • Generalized Anxiety Disorder- intense worry, fears, restlessness, fatigue, trouble falling asleep, and trouble concentrating. • Phobias- anxiety associated to a specific situation or object. • Panic Attacks- fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, trembling or shaking etc.

4. Anxieties cont. • Obsessive compulsive Disorder (OCD)- an unwanted thought or image takes control of the mind and the person has unreasonable need to behave in a certain way to prevent feared outcome. • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder- Survivors of life-threatening events-flashbacks, nightmares-produce intense fear or horror.

5. Other Mental Disorders • Mood Disorders- experience extreme emotions-ex; bipolar disorder also called manic-depressive disorder-overly excited and restless-periods of deep depression. • Schizophrenia-severe disturbances in thinking, mood, awareness and behavior- means “Split mind”. Hear voices and often talk to themselves.

6. Depression & Suicide • Clinical Depression- Mood disorder- characterized by feeling sad or hopeless for months maybe longer. • Risk Factors- • A parent or other close biological relative with a mood disorder • A major life change or a prolonged stressful situation • Being a victim of a violent crime or witnessing violence • A previous bout with depression • A sense of hopelessness

7. Signs of Clinical Depression • Change in appetite, significant weight loss or gain • Change in sleep patterns, difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much • Change in activity level; sluggish (slow) or frantic (fast-paced) • Loss of interest in usual activities • Loss of energy; always tired • Hopelessness; excessive guilt • Difficulty thinking or concentrating • Repeated thoughts of death and suicide

8. Depression Cont. • Treatment • Medication • Learn new strategies to cope with problems

9. Eating Disorders • An eating disorder is a mental disorder that reveals itself through abnormal behaviors related to food. • Anorexia Nervosa- Extreme weight loss, slowed heart and breathing rates, dry skin, lowered body temperature, menstrual period problems. • Possible causes- Lack of a chemical that regulates mood, low self-esteem, strong desire to please someone. • Most often it’s a matter of control!

10. Eating Disorders • Bulimia- uncontrolled eating binges followed by purging. • Health Risks- dehydration, kidney damage, lack of necessary vitamins and minerals, acid in vomit irritates throat and erodes enamel on teeth, depression and possible suicide. • Possible Causes- Use of food to feel better emotionally.

11. Eating Disorders • Binge Eating Disorder- Uncontrollable urge to eat large amounts of food- Ex; intend to eat 1-2 slices of bread and they eat the entire loaf! • Health Risks- Excess weight, unhealthy dieting, diabetes, high blood pressure, tendency to turn to extreme diets. • Possible Causes- avoid difficult emotions, such as anger or stressful situations.