Mental Disorders
An illness that affects a person’s
thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Affects how the person manages their
life
Symptom
A change that a person notices in
his/her body or mind and that is
caused by a disease or disorder
Symptoms of mental
disorders
Remember many types of disorders with a
variety of symptoms
– Too much or too little sleep
– Extreme sadness
– Unexplained mood changes
– Drug or alcohol abuse
– Inability to concentrate
– Extreme anxiety or irrational fear
– Personality changes
– False perceptions of reality
Common disorders
Depression (major depressive disorder)-
serious, if left untreated can result in suicide
Symptoms
– Lack of energy
– Withdrawal from people
– Loss of appetite
– Too much or too little sleep
– Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
Depression
ways to deal with
Face the problem
– Don’t wait for the problem to go away
– Seek professional help
– Don’t use drugs or alcohol
Identify the problem
– What is causing the problem
– Could be biological
Take action– responding will help put you in control
and help release unpleasant feelings
– Use positive self-talk
– Seek support of others
– Be active—physical activity produces chemicals that make
us feeel good
Attention-
deficit/hyperactivity
disorder
Most commonly diagnosed disorder of
childhood—lifetime condition
Frequently inattentive or impulsively
hyperactive to point problems accomplishing
daily activities
– Easily distracted
– Difficulty following instructions
– Difficulty completing tasks
Cause unknown
Treatment--medications
Anxiety disorders
Normal o feel nervous in some
situations (tests, giving speeches)
If anxiety gets in way of taking part in
daily activities, occurs frequently, or
causes terror, it may be an anxiety
disorder
Panic disorder
Feel extreme fear for life even though
not in danger
May feel like having a heart attack
phobias
Excessive or persistent fear of
something that may or may not
present danger
– Acrophobia—fear of high places
Obsessive-compulsive
disorder
Uncomfortable thoughts (obsessions)
Repetitive behaviors (compulsions)
Post-traumatic disorder
Avoidance of experiences that could
trigger memories of a traumatic
experience such as wartime
experiences or abuse
Eating disorders
Obsessive behavior and thoughts
about weight control
– Starvation of oneself such as anorexia
nervosa
– Consumption of large amounts of food
followed by vomiting such as bulimia
nervosa
hypochondria
Belief in illness when none can be
found
Bipolar disorder
Uncontrollable cycles of extreme
happiness and then depression
Schizophrenia
False perceptions of reality
Hallucinations and/or delusions
Causes of mental
disorders
Stressful event/traumatic event
(death, accident, abusive event)
Inherited
– schizophrenia
Injury to brain/physical disorders
– Brain tumors
– Alcoholism
– Some infections
Treatments
If you or a friend might have a
problem talk to an adult (parent,
school nurse, religious leader)
Places for help
– Hospitals
– Clinical
– Private agencies
– School linked services
Types of treatment
Psychotherapy
– Counseling from licensed therapist
Help resolve issues from past trauma
Discover source of fear
Group therapy
– Therapist leads a group of people
Talk about problem with people who have similar problem
Medications
– Antidepressants (treat depression), schizophrenia,
ADHD
– Need prescription
– Usually along with group therapy or psychotherapy