Mental/ Emotional Disorders

QOD #3 What are positive ways to manage your stress?

Mental and Emotional Problems Anxiety disorders- a illness that causes unusually strong nervousness, worry or panic, including panic attacks, phobias, and compulsive disorders OCD, post tramatic stress disorder segment D:\Post_Traumatic_Stress_Disorder.asf D:\Obsessive_Compulsive_Disorder.asf D:\Treating_Obsessive_Compulsive_Disorder.a sfD:\Treating_Obsessive_Compulsive_Disorder.a sf

Mental and Emotional Problems Mood disorders- a condition in which a person undergoes changes in mood that seem inappropriate or extreme Includes bipolar disorder (manic depression), depression Manic depression and depression clips D:\Manic_Depression.asf D:\Depression.asf

Mental and Emotional Problems Personality disorders- condition that affects a persons ability to get along with others because they behave in unexpected ways. Includes schizophrenia D:\Schizophrenia.asf

Depression A serious mood disorder in which a person feels sad and hopeless for at least 2 weeks

QOD #4 Your friend appears to be suffering from depression… How do you know? What should you do?

Signs of Depression Sadness or hopelessness Irritability, anger, or hostility Tearfulness or frequent crying Withdrawal from friends and family Loss of interest in activities Changes in eating and sleeping habits Restlessness and agitation Feelings of worthlessness and guilt Lack of enthusiasm and motivation Fatigue or lack of energy Difficulty concentrating Thoughts of death or suicide

Untreated depression can lead to… Problems at school Depression can cause low energy and concentration difficulties. At school, this may lead to poor attendance, a drop in grades, or frustration with schoolwork in a formerly good student. Running away Many depressed teens run away from home or talk about running away. Such attempts are usually a cry for help. Substance abuse Teens may use alcohol or drugs in an attempt to “self-medicate” their depression. Unfortunately, substance abuse only makes things worse. Low self-esteem Depression can trigger and intensify feelings of ugliness, shame, failure, and unworthiness. Eating disorders Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and yo-yo dieting are often signs of unrecognized depression

Internet addiction Teens may go online to escape from their problems. But excessive computer use only increases their isolation and makes them more depressed. Self-injury Cutting, burning, and other kinds of self-mutilation are almost always associated with depression. Reckless behavior Depressed teens may engage in dangerous or high-risk behaviors, such as reckless driving, out-of-control drinking, and unsafe sex. Violence Some depressed teens (usually boys who are the victims of bullying) become violent. As in the case of the Columbine school massacre, self-hatred and a wish to die can erupt into violence and homicidal rage. Suicide Teens who are seriously depressed often think, speak, or make "attention-getting" attempts at suicide. Suicidal thoughts or behaviors should always be taken very seriously.

If you are depressed Get help; don’t wait to see if depression will get better. Attend scheduled therapy and do not stop taking medications or take alternative treatments without talking to your doctor. Eat a healthy diet, exercise, and get enough sleep. Participate in positive activities; even small activities like personal grooming help. Keep a journal about how you feel to help yourself and your doctor or therapist determine triggers and effective treatments for your depression. Consider having a no-suicide contract, either verbal or written. Learn about teen depression. Know that you can feel better. If you feel suicidal, tell someone and call 911 or a suicide hotline immediately.

Suicide warning signs Talking or joking about committing suicide. Saying things like, “I’d be better off dead,” “I wish I could disappear forever,” or “There’s no way out.” Speaking positively about death or romanticizing dying (“If I died, people might love me more”). Writing stories and poems about death, dying, or suicide. Engaging in reckless behavior or having a lot of accidents resulting in injury. Giving away prized possessions. Saying goodbye to friends and family as if for good. Seeking out weapons, pills, or other ways to kill themselves.

cutting mental_health/cutting.htmlhttp:// mental_health/cutting.html

You want to be alone, but a friend wants to be with you. What do you do? A classmate teases you or calls you a name. How do you respond? You're walking along a busy city street with your mom and decide you want an ice cream cone. You know your mom won't be enthusiastic about the idea. How do you ask? Your family is having a conversation around the dinner table, and you have an opinion you'd like to state, but everyone is talking so fast. How do you get people to listen to what you have to say? An older kid says you have to give him the cake from your lunch or he'll beat you up. Two close friends ask you to join them in stealing money from another kid's backpack. Your younger brother keeps bothering you when you're trying to do your homework.