EMOTIONAL DISORDERS
Important Things To Know and
Understand
Emotional Disorders
Are important to learn about so we
can
Provide support and friendship
Remove and dispel fear of the
unknown
Seek help if necessary
Emotional Disorders
Can be caused by:
Chemical imbalance in the brain
Genetics
Environmental factors
Life changing events
Unmanaged or unresolved stress
Emotional disorders we will
discuss are
ADDICTIVE
BEHAVIORS
PERFECTIONISM
EATING
DISORDERS
ANOREXIA
BULIMIA
OVEREATING
ANXIETY
DISORDERS/
PHOBIAS/PANIC
ATTACKS
PERSONALITY
DISORDERS
DEPRESSION
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS
Sometimes, when people are unable
to cope with daily life challenges, they
want to avoid facing problems. They
want to improve their mood. They
choose an addictive behavior which is
repeated, difficult to stop and has
harmful effects.. Practicing addictive
behavior is a harmful way to cope
with or avoid problems.
Addictive Behaviors
Causes:unsuccessful
coping skills or
unmanaged stress
Signs/Symptoms:
feeling neglected
and needing
attention;devoted to
one person or
behavior
Consequences:
depression, lonely,
confused, out of
control, stressed,
illness
Treatment: support
groups, twelve step
programs, formal
interventions,
gradually stopping,
cold turkey
PERFECTIONISM
An addictive behavior in which a
person is obsessed with doing things
without fault.
Can possibly lead to the more serious
obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
To be compulsive is to have an
irresistible urge to repeat a
behavior
Perfectionism
 Cause: Never being
satisfied with what you
do;mental illness,
environmental factors,
chemical imbalance
 Signs: never being
satisfied, cheating,
redoing things, spending
excessive time on
projects
 Consequences: being
made fun of, difficulty
eating and sleeping, no
social life
 Treatment:some drugs,
try to be satisfied with
your best effort rather
than thinking you must
be perfect, counseling,
therapy
EATING DISORDERS
Changing eating habits in a way
that is harmful to the mind and
body.
Includes Anorexia, Bulimia, and
Overeating
Eating Disorders
 Causes: poor body
image, unrealistic body
image, certain emotions
drive them to eat or
starve, environmental
factors, etc.
 Signs: secret binge
eating, frequent use of
the bathroom, vomiting
and using laxatives,
perfectionist and people
pleaser, low self esteem
Consequences:
diabetes,
malnutrition,
depression, tooth
decay, damaged
organs, death, yellow
skin, etc.
Treatment:
counseling, therapy,
medical help
ANXIETY
DISORDERS/PHOBIAS
PANIC ATTACKS
Strong feelings of apprehension
or fear that linger over long
periods of time
Anxiety Disorders et.al.
Causes: actual
dangers, side effects
of medications,
STRESS, poor diet,
drugs, low blood
sugar
Signs:trembling,
headaches, muscle
tension, extreme fear
 Consequences: afraid to
leave the house, anxiety
or panic attacks, not
many friends, threaten
job, etc.
 Treatment: psychiatric
evaluation, accurate
diagnosis, therapy,
desensitization,
pharmacology
PERSONALITY
DISORDERS
Changes in personality in daily life
Might include lack of social skills,
moodiness, highly emotional states,
lack of healthy relationships
These disorders happen gradually
over time
Personality Disorders
 Cause: too much stress,
not enough friends or
people who care, not in
social situations,
chemical imbalance,
genetics, life altering
event
 Signs: no friends,
sad,no healthy
relationships, alone a lot
Consequence: no
friends, hard to have
healthy relationships,
no fun
Treatment: teach
new behaviors,
therapy, develop new
thinking patterns, try
to get out more
DEPRESSION
Strong mood, sadness,
discouragement, despair,
hopelessness
Lasts for weeks, months, or longer
Interferes with ability to participate in
normal activities
Depression
 Causes: chemical
imbalance in brain,
heredity, major life
changes
 Signs: persistently sad,
anxious, hopeless, empty
mood, guilt, loss of
interest in things once
enjoyed, decreased
energy, weight gain/loss
Consequences: loss
of friends, grades
suffer, drop out of
activities, suicide
Treatment: therapy,
counseling,
pharmacology,
support groups
PROFESSIONAL HELPERS
Family Physician
Psychiatrists (MD or DO)
Psychologists (may have Ph.D.)
Licensed Social Workers
Support Groups (AA, NA, etc.)