Mental and Emotional Problems

1. Mental and Emotional Problems Discuss Glencoe Health text page 223 #1-8

2. Mental disorder – an illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person, preventing him or her from: 1) leading a happy, healthful, and productive life 2) adjusting to life situations 3) getting along with others • 20% of U.S. population each year = 54 million people • USA is the #1 medicated nation in world stigma– negative label or mark of shame

3. Organic disorder – caused by a physical illness or an injury that affects the brain • Tumor • Infection • Chemical Imbalance • Drugs • Toxins injury

4. Functional disorder – psychological cause not involving brain damage • Heredity • Stress • Emotional conflict • Fear • Ineffective coping skills • Abuse • Serious illness • Traumatic death of close relative • Divorce • Economic hardships • Natural disasters

5. Other Mental Disorder Causes • Inborn – hereditary • Early Experiences – unresolved conflicts (similar to functional) • Current Causes – environmental influences

6. Anxiety disorder – condition in which real or imagined fears are difficult to control • Phobia – strong irrational fear of something specific • Panic disorder – sudden, unexplained feelings of terror usually triggered by a particular object, condition, or situation • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – trapped in a pattern of repeated thoughts or behaviors • Post-Traumatic Stress disorder – condition that may develop after exposure to a terrifying event that threatened or caused physical harm

7. Somatoform disorder – the complaining of physical symptoms (pain) but there is no underlying cause for the symptoms Affective/Mood disorder – an illness, often with an organic cause, which involves mood extremes that interfere with everyday living • Clinical depression – feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or despair last for more than a few weeks and interfere with daily interests and activities (chemical imbalance) • Bipolar disorder/Manic-depressive disorder- marked by extreme mood changes, energy levels, and behavior Figure 9.1 page 227

8. Eating disorder – psychological pressures, possible genetic factors, and obsession with body image and thinness • Anorexia nervosa – refusal to eat normally or retain food in the body • Bulimia nervosa – eating binges followed by purging

9. Conduct disorder – a pattern of behavior in which the rights of others or basic social rules are violated • Lying • Theft • Aggression • Violence • Truancy • Arson • Vandalism

10. Personality disorders • Compulsive personality – doing things over and over again • Passive-Aggressive disorder – uncooperative, hate being told what to do but rely on others’ directions • Oppositional– constant conflict with others • Schizoid– withdrawn from others; no warm feelings toward others • Dissociative– becoming disconnected from your former identity (Amnesia or multiple personalities)

11. Personality disorders (continued) • Schizophrenia – a severe mental disorder in which a person loses contact with reality (i.e. delusions, hallucinations, thought disorders) • Paranoia – false feeling that others are trying to harm you • Antisocial personality disorder – irritable, aggressive, impulsive, and violent; show no remorse for their behavior • Borderline personality disorder – troubled relationships, high-risk activities, poor self-esteem, fear abandonment and lash out at people they need the most

12. Alienation – feeling isolated and separated from everyone else How does the feeling of alienation combined with depression lead to suicide? Sensitive topic! Discussions may be difficult for some individuals. Let me know if there is a problem listening and discussing this topic!

13. Suicide pages 230-241 Suicide – the act of intentionally taking one’s own life Risk factors include: extreme distress, depression, mental disorders, abusing alcohol or drugs, physical or sexual abuse, previous suicide attempts, family history of emotional disorders or suicides • Committing the person actually dies • Attempting is an unsuccessful try to end one’s own life

14. Who attempts suicide and who commits suicide more (males or females) and why? • Attempts - female Why - need for help or attention “fairy tale” ending – being saved, rescued, given attention, life is of value • Commits - male Why - quick permanent methods used due to easier access to weapons Sign of weakness to live/survive?

15. What methods of suicide attempts are used by each more often? • Female – drug overdose, cutting wrists • Male – guns, hanging, drugs, jumping • Check websites for latest statistics Cluster suicides – series of suicides occurring within a short period of time and involving several people in the same school or community

16. Preventing Suicide and Warning Signs of Suicide Figure 9.2 page 231 • Recognize signs • Take person serious if they talk about it jokingly or seriously (do not leave them alone!) • Initiate meaningful conversation • Show support and ask questions • Try to persuade person to seek help • Never bargain with person • Seek professional help & assistance immediately

17. What is Suicide “Post-vention”? providing support to a person which attempted suicide through discussions, simply being around the person to stop another attempt, and using professional help getting help for the person after an attempt Refer back to handout on Verbal & Nonverbal Warning Signs, Myths & Facts, and Do/Don’t methods of helping a Suicidal person

18. Professional Therapy Methods Psychotherapy – ongoing dialogue between a patient and a mental health professional Behavior therapy – treatment process that focuses on changing unwanted behaviors through rewards and reinforcements Cognitive therapy – treatment method designed to identify and correct distorted thinking patterns that can lead to feelings and behaviors that may be troublesome, self-defeating, or self-destructive Group therapy – treating a group of people who have similar problems and who meet regularly with a trained counselor Biomedical therapy – use of certain medications to treat or reduce the symptoms of a mental disorder Hospitalization or sanitarium is the last resort!

19. Understanding Death and Grief Coping – dealing successfully with difficult changes in your life Grief response – individual’s total response to a major loss The Grieving Process Denial or Numbness Emotional Releases Anger Bargaining Depression Remorse Acceptance Hope

20. Coping with DeathMourning – act of showing sorrow or grief • Focus on relationship and what you did together • Remember the wonderful things about the person • Seek support form others Discuss Coping with Disasters and Crises page 241