CHAPTER 5

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS

ANXIETY
Anxiety: the condition of feeling uneasy
or worried about what may happen
HORMONAL CHANGES
RELATIONSHIP ISSUES
GRIEF
STRESS
Common feelings: worry, insecurity, fear,
self-consciousness, panic

COPING WITH ANXIETY

Knowing that anxiety is common doesnt make
it easier to MANAGE.
Stress-Management Techniques can be helpful
in dealing with anxiety: practice refusal
skills, think positively, plan ahead, and
avoid illegal drugs.
Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco produce a
temporary, false sense of relaxation, but can
cause other physical, mental/emotional,
social, or legal problems.

UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION

Depression can linger or be severe enough to disrupt

daily activities.

Depression: a prolonged feeling of helplessness,

hopelessness, & sadness.

Sadness can affect everyone; but depression lasts longer.

Symptoms of depression usually last longer than sadness

and produces symptom that do NOT do away over time.

Depression may require medical help.

Almost 15% of all teens will display some signs of

depression.

Depression is one of the most common mental health

concerns among teens.

TYPES OF DEPRESSION
1. Major Depression: is intense and
can last for weeks or months.
2. Mild Depression: has less severe
symptoms, but can last for YEARS.
3. Adjustment Disorder: a reaction
to a specific life event.

WARNING SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

5 or more of these symptoms must persist for 2 or
more weeks before a diagnosis
Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
Significant change in appetite or body weight
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
Persistent sad or irritable mood
Physical signs of nervousness
Difficulty concentrating
Loss of energy

CAUSES & EFFECTS OF

DEPRESSION

Depression can be caused by physical,

psychological, or social reasons.
A medical condition or illness may cause
depression.
Other symptoms of Depression include the
following
Changes in thinking: trouble concentrating,
making decisions
Changes in feelings: may experience APATHY
(lack of strong feeling or concern)
Changes in behavior: become emotional;
eating/sleeping/hygiene patterns change

GETTING HELP FOR DEPRESSION

Depression IS a treatable illness!!

If a friend asks you not to tell
anyone that they are depressed,
its ok to break that promise!

LESSON 2: MENTAL DISORDERS

Gaining an understanding of mental health
disorders builds insight and empathy.
preventing him or her from leading a
happy, healthful, & productive life.
Mental Disorder: illness of the mind that
can affect the thoughts, feelings, &
behaviors of a person, preventing him or
her from leading a happy, healthful, &
productive life.

STIGMA
STIGMA is a mark of shame or
disapproval that results in an
individual being shunned or
rejected by others.
Mental disorders are medical
conditions-they require a
diagnosis & treatment just like
any physical illness or injury.

ANXIETY DISORDER

A condition in which real or

imagined fears are difficult to
control.
People with an anxiety
disorder try to avoid
situations that make them feel
anxious or fearful.

5 TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS:

Phobia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Panic disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD)
Generalized anxiety disorder
(GAD)

IMPULSE CONTROL DISORDERS

People with an impulse control disorder
cannot resist the urge to hurt
themselves or others.
PEOPLE WITH IMPULSE CONTROL
DISORDERS

May cause physical harm to

themselves or others.
Could cause financial harm.
May behave in ways that cause
them to lose friends.

EXAMPLES OF IMPULSE
CONTROL DISORDERS

KLEPTOMANIA
CUTTING
PYROMANIA
EXCESSIVE GAMBLING
COMPULSIVE SHOPPING

EATING DISORDERS~
ANOREXIA-fear of weight
gain that leads to selfstarvation.
Sees themselves
unrealistically as
overweight even when
they are dangerously
thin!
Often develop obsessive
behaviors related to
food, such as
Avoiding food & meals

COMMON IN TEEN YEARS

BULIMIA-cycles of
overeating & purging, or
attempts to rid the body
of food.
Regularly go on binges
Followed by a purge
Instead of purging, may
fast or exercise
frantically!

MOOD DISORDER
An illness that involves mood
extremes that interfere with
everyday living.
Extremes are SEVERE!
Examples: Bipolar disorder (aka
Manic-depressive disorder)
extreme mood changes, energy
levels, & behavior

CONDUCT DISORDER
Engage in patterns of behavior in which the
rights of others or basic social rules are
violated.
Examples:
Stealing
Cruelty
Lying
Aggression
Violence
Truancy
Arson
vandalism

SCHIZOPHRENIA

When the person loses contact

with reality.
Symptoms: delusions,
hallucinations, thought
disorders, unpredictable
behavior.
Affects about 1% of the
population.
Professional help and
medication are needed to
treat this illness.

PERSONALITY DISORDER

Unable to regulate their

emotions
Feel distressed in social
situations or may behave
in ways that are
distressing to others
Cause=unknown