MENTAL DISORDERS

Facing Problems

• IDENTIFY YOUR PROBLEM

• DETERMINE IF IT IS TEMPORARY OR PERSISITENT

If TemporaryHow Serious Is It

• Not Too Serious

– Think it out, or talk to a family member or friend

• Very Serious

– Think it out, talk to a family member or friend and seek professional help

If PersistentCan You Handle It Alone

• If Yes

– Think it out, or talk to a family member or friend

• If No

– Think it out, talk to a family member or friend and seek professional

Understanding Mental Disorders

• Feeling anxious, sad or fearful is natural.

• If feelings continue for long period of time and make people feel out of control or unable to deal with life may signal mental disorder

• Sometimes it has a physical cause, injury to brain, effects of drug use, genentics

Types of Disorders

• Anxiety disorders

• Mood disorders

• Schizophrenia

Anxiety Disorder

• A disorder in which real or imagined fears keep a person from functioning normally

– Phobias – Exaggerated fears about something specific (spiders, snakes)

– Obsessive-compulsive – Cannot keep certain thoughts out of mind. May develop repetitive behaviors

– Stress – affects people that have had an overwhelming experience

Mood Disorders

• Person undergoes changes in mood that seems inappropriate or extreme

Depression

• Mood disorder involving feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, guilt, and extreme sadness

Bipolar Disorder

• Extreme mood swings for no apparent reason

• May be extremely happy and then extremely sad

Schizophrenia

• A person perception lose their connection to reality

• Hear voices or see images that are not really there

• May suffer from false beliefs – that they have unusual powers or are on a special mission

• It is considered the most serious mental disorder

Treating Mental Disorders

• Often difficult to treat

• Strong medicines and long term therapy is most often used

Seriously Troubled Teens

• Suicide – Intentionally killing oneself

• 2nd Leading cause of death among teens between ages of 15 and 19

The warning Signs of Suicide

• Statements like “They’ll be sorry when I’m gone.” or “I wish I could just go to seep and never wake up!”

• Low levels of energy

• Taking greater risks than usual

The warning Signs of Suicide

• Loss of interest in hobbies, sports, jobs, etc.

• Giving away prized possessions

• A past history of attempted suicide