Mental and Emotional Disorders PDF

What are Mental and Emotional Disorders? MAIN IDEA​ ​Mental and emotional disorders are health disorders. Mental and emotional problems are more common than many people realize. Each year, they affect about one out of four adults and one out of ten children in the United States. As common as they a...

What are Mental and Emotional Disorders? MAIN IDEA​ ​Mental and emotional disorders are health disorders. Mental and emotional problems are more common than many people realize. Each year, they affect about one out of four adults and one out of ten children in the United States. As common as they are, however, these problems are often misunderstood. Some people think that problems such as depression are just part of someone’s personality. They may even see these problems as a character weakness. The truth is that mental and emotional disorders are illnesses, just like heart disease or cancer. Mental and emotional disorders can have various causes. Some of them may be caused by genetics that passed from one family member to another.. They can result from having too much or too little of certain chemicals in the brain. Physical injury, such as a blow to the head, can also affect mental and emotional health. In other cases, a disorder may arise from life experiences. They may result from violence, stress, or the loss of a loved one. Reading Check Explain​ What causes mental and emotional disorders? Anxiety Disorders MAIN IDEA​ ​Intense anxiety or fear keeps a person from functioning normally. Everybody feels anxious sometimes. It’s normal to feel nervous when you’re trying out for a play or starting an important test. For some people, however, anxiety never goes away. It takes over their lives. These people have an anxiety disorder​.​ Doctors do not know exactly what causes these disorders. However, they can still treat them. Usually, treatment involves both drugs and counseling. There are several common types of anxiety disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder​ makes people worry all the time, often for reasons that aren’t that important. It can also cause physical problems, such as headaches. Panic​ ​disorder​ causes periods of intense fear called panic attacks. They cause symptoms such as a pounding heart, sweating, or nausea. They make people feel so awful that they will go out of their way to avoid anything that could cause another attack. A Phobia is an extreme fear of specific objects or situations. The table in the Lesson Resources panel lists some common phobias. Social anxiety disorder,​ also known as social phobia, is a fear of dealing with people. Some people are afraid of specific situations, such as public speaking. Others are afraid to be around other people at all. They may fear that others are watching or judging them. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)​ traps people in a pattern of repeated thoughts and actions. It may force them to do certain tasks over and over, such as washing hands or counting objects. Post-traumatic stress disorder​ occurs after a very stressful event. Physical or sexual violence can trigger this disorder. It also affects many war veterans. People with this disorder have flashbacks in which they relive the event. Some people recover quickly from this disorder, but others need more time. READING CHECK Identify​ What are the symptoms of OCD? Mood Disorders MAIN IDEA​ ​Extreme or inappropriate changes in mood that last a long time may indicate a mood disorder. Everyone feels happy on some days and sad on others. During your teen years, in fact, it’s normal to go from feeling happy to feeling sad quite suddenly. However, emotions that are extreme and last a long time may be a sign of a mood disorder​.​ The two main types of mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder. Depression You might describe yourself as feeling “depressed” because you did badly on a test or your boyfriend or girlfriend broke up with you. This kind of sadness is normal and happens to everyone sometimes. What doctors call depression, on the other hand, is a serious problem. Clinical depression, or major depression, is a mental illness that causes feelings of extreme sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and guilt. These feelings may last for weeks, months, or even years. People who are depressed often lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. They may also feel angry or irritable for no reason. Depressed people may withdraw from family and friends. Some are unable to sleep, while others sleep all the time. Depression can also cause physical problems, such as tiredness and headaches. If depression is not treated, people may begin to think about suicide​. Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, causes extreme mood swings. People switch between low periods and high periods. Their low periods cause all the symptoms of depression. During their high, or ​manic​, periods, people are in a constant state of excitement. They may feel either happy or irritable. They sleep less and have huge amounts of energy. They may also behave in reckless ways. However, in between the cycles, people may go through calmer periods. At these times, their behavior is fairly normal. READING CHECK Define​ What is a mood disorder? Personality Disorders MAIN IDEA​ ​Three types of personality disorders include paranoid, antisocial, and dependent personality disorders. All people have a basic need to belong and be accepted by others. People with a personality disorder​,​ however, find it very hard to relate to others. They get stuck in harmful patterns of thinking and acting that cause major trouble in their social lives. Personality disorders fall into three main groups. The first kind causes people to have a hard time trusting others. One example is ​paranoid personality disorder.​ People with this disorder often suspect others of wanting to harm them. They are suspicious and often hostile. Disorders in the second group cause extremes of emotion and behavior. Antisocial personality disorder​ is one example. People with this disorder have little respect for others. They may lie, steal, or harm people in other ways, including physically. They often get into trouble with the law. Finally, some disorders make people feel or act afraid all the time. People with ​dependent personality disorder,​ for example, look to others to take care of them. They do not like to make decisions for themselves. Often, they would rather put up with unkind or abusive treatment than be alone. READING CHECK Identify​ Name two personality disorders. Schizophrenia MAIN IDEA​ ​Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that is treatable. Schizophrenia (skit zoh FREE nee uh) is one of the most severe mental disorders. The causes of schizophrenia are not known. It is a mental health disorder that requires medical attention. People with this disorder often have delusions​. These are beliefs that have no basis in reality. A person with this disorder may also ​hallucinate​, hearing voices or seeing people who are not there. These symptoms are very frightening and can cause the person with schizophrenia to behave in strange and unpredictable ways. Their thinking may be disorganized and they may express themselves in unusual ways. People with this disorder often have trouble holding a job or caring for themselves. Among teens, the symptoms of schizophrenia may be subtle. Some teens appear to be withdrawn and depressed, show little interest in schoolwork, have trouble sleeping, and lack motivation. Teens with schizophrenia are less likely to suffer some of the most severe symptoms of the disease. Many teens do not have delusions or hallucinations. A person with schizophrenia may be afraid of what they are feeling. The strange behavior associated with schizophrenia causes fear in others. A person with schizophrenia is suffering from a medical condition and needs medical help. The symptoms of schizophrenia can be treated with drug therapy. Many people with the disorder also need therapy and community support. READING CHECK Explain​ How is schizophrenia treated?