Aim: How can we recognize mental illness?
Do now: What would you consider to be abnormal behavior?
The term abnormal is used to describe behaviors, feelings, or thoughts that are highly unusual and inappropriate in a given situation.
Since each person exists as part of a particular society and culture, each person’s notion of “normal” is shaped by his or her culture, as well as by his or her family, community and other experiences. A behavior or way of thinking that might not be considered abnormal might be considered abnormal in another culture. Not everyone agrees on what is normal or abnormal behavior. Mental-health specialists also do not always agree.
Read the following scenarios: Do you think this behavior is normal or abnormal?
In the last six months, Linda has become more and more concerned about germs. She washes her hands at least 100 times a day, scrubs the doorknobs in her house, and insists that her knives, forks, and spoons be boiled before she uses them.
Jose is an avid skateboarder. Since his parent’s divorce, he has used his skateboard in increasingly dangerous situations. Now, he regularly dodges cars and trucks as he skateboards across a four-lane highway near school.
Pat is 5’6” and weighs 97 lbs. For the past three months, she has been on a strict diet of cottage cheese, lettuce, and water. She still considers herself heavy and wants to lose five pounds.
Arthur enjoys collecting pictures and descriptions of past wars. Outside of school, he spends all of his spare time in his room organizing his collection. He has no time for friends or social activities.
Most mental health professionals would agree that each of the teenagers shows signs of a mental disorder.
A mental disorder is an illness that affects the mind and prevents a person from being productive, adjusting to life situations, or getting along with others. Most mental disorders are characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings or behaviors that make people uncomfortable with themselves or at odds with others.
Causes, types and help for mental disorders
Causes: Organic- example dementia (loss of brain function- memory loss, poor judgment, mental confusion). Can be caused by a growth or tumor in the brain, prolonged drug or alcohol abuse; can be traced to physical causes. Alzheimer’s disease.
Functional- disorders that cannot be traced to physical causes- exact cause is not fully understood, can be a combination of inborn causes, early experiences, current causes or a combination of all three.
Inborn- genetic- passed through generations (depression). Individuals may inherit tendencies for disorders that may be triggered by an environmental experience.
Early Experiences- unpleasant experiences that occurred early in life (may be repressed)
Current Causes- current, significant and stressful events can trigger disorders.
Types: These disorders are persistent and interfere with normal, everyday functioning!!!
Anxiety Disorders: fear that does not have an identifiable source or fear caused by a danger that no longer exists (phobias- anxiety is related to a specific situation or object, general anxiety or panic disorder- anxiety caused by nothing specific, ocd- idea or thought takes over the mind and cannot be forgotten- leads to a specific behavior that relieves the anxiety caused by the obsessive thought)
Somatoform disorders: Complains of physical symptoms when no underlying physical cause can be found (hypochondria-constant fear of disease and preoccupation with one’s health, psychosomatic illness- emotional stress causes a physical illness)
Eating Disorders: Abnormal eating (anorexia- refusal to eat, intentional starvation; bulimia- binging and purging through vomiting, laxatives, over exercising or starvation)
Mood Disorders: emotions become extreme and interfere with daily life (depression- overwhelming sad feelings that stops a person from carrying out everyday activities; bipolar disorder- extreme mood swings from mania to deep depression)
Personality Disorders: behavior that interferes with a person’s pursuit of a happy, healthy life (dependent- are dependent on others but resent being told what to do, vent anger indirectly; antisocial personality- perform cruel and violent acts without feeling guilt)
Dissociative disorders: disconnection from former identity (amnesia- sudden loss of memory; dissociative disorder- person becomes disconnected from one personality, usually in a traumatic event, and form an alternate personality to deal with the situation) usually brought on by trauma (physical or emotional).
Psychotic Disorders (Schizophrenia): unpredictable disturbances in thinking, mood, awareness, and behavior. People are usually split off from reality.
Childhood Disorders: Disorders that develop during childhood (ADD/ADHD, autism, Tourette's syndrome).