Depression and anxiety are more than just the occasional bout of
sadness or panic in response to life events. They are serious mental
illnesses that often threaten to overwhelm the sufferer, keeping him
from leading a normal life. Fortunately, depression and anxiety often
respond well to physical and mental exercise. If you suffer from either
anxiety or depression and feel your symptoms are keeping you from the
life you want, these therapeutic techniques may help alleviate them.
Distinguishing Between Anxiety and Depression
Sometimes it can be difficult to know if you suffer from anxiety or
depression. Both disorders have symptoms that may overlap, such as
obsessive thoughts and insomnia. Generalized anxiety disorder often
features unpleasant physical symptoms such as difficulty swallowing,
muscle tension, sweating, flushing and irritability.
Depression is a disorder that may undermine your willingness to
participate in activities once found enjoyable. You can spend a lot of
time crying, feeling worthless or sleeping. Both depression and anxiety
can be debilitating, preventing you from functioning normally and living
a full and happy life.
Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, presents specific exercises to
address the false beliefs that plague sufferers of anxiety and
depressive disorders. CBT is based on the theory that your thoughts,
rather than external influences, determine your emotions and behavior. A
short-term form of psychotherapy, CBT requires homework outside of the
therapist's office. Clients are required to keep a record of their
thoughts and resultant behavior. CBT exercises are useful long after
therapy is complete, giving clients the tools to reject false thoughts
that lead to maladaptive behaviors.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Always Thought I'd See You Again
Rejection. Now there's a good word. Well not a good word, maybe. Not for the person feeling it.
Jason had been rejected. Not once, but a whole lot of times. Each time he was rejected, he became dejected. People often said he looked dejected. Apparently, that often happens with someone who's been rejected. He heard them say that too, so many times that aimlessly, in the bar, he often used to ponder words ending with "jection:" subjection, objection, injection, abjection, ejection. As far as he was concerned, they all had negative connotation. But he was comfortable with that. He felt they were his personal words, that, in a way, they summed him up. You might say Jason was a bit negative. That's what the guys in the bar often told him. Was he always negative, they'd ask him, half-jokingly. He didn't know. He couldn't remember a time when he wasn't, but he could clearly remember the first time he felt rejected.
He was four. Not long after his fourth birthday, his mother left. He didn't know why Mommy went. One day at lunchtime, when he came back from kindergarten, she was just not there. Now he's forty, but he still vividly remembers that day. Like most days. Gill Griffin, an older girl in his school, who lived near him, walked him home. That day, his father, looking grey and pale, was waiting outside the hall door. His father worked in town and was never home at this time. But that day, he was standing at the door. Forty years later, Jason can still smell the roast chicken Mrs. Sullivan next door was cooking and hear the song playing on her radio: "Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you." His mom's name was Suzanne. Ever since, Jason couldn't listen to James Taylor.
His first high school romance lasted three months and four days. His second about a month longer. No surprise then, that his one-and-only marriage was doomed to fail. And it did. After less than a year, his one-and-only wife left him. That was fifteen years ago. Since then, more than one counsellor told him that his problem was his fear of rejection. He didn't understand this. He thought everyone feared rejection. No, the analysts said, not everyone. Most people may consider the possibility, but they don't fear it. His problem was pathological, they said. He didn't just fear rejection, he brought it on himself. Because he feared it some much, he expected it. And because he expected it, subconsciously, he courted it. When it happened, as it always did, he felt, well, rejected, but strangely, also comforted, because, the world had worked out as it was supposed to. The counselors had a name for this, but he just called it a pain in the neck, and no big deal.
Problem was, it was a big deal and he knew it. He didn't know he knew it, but he knew it. Being rejected was his trade, his way of life, a sort of perverse comfort. He knew where he stood with rejection. Sure, it was a comfort with cruel sharp edges. But enough booze filed away those edges. So, voila, it was comfort with no cruel edges. And that was fine.
Jason had been rejected. Not once, but a whole lot of times. Each time he was rejected, he became dejected. People often said he looked dejected. Apparently, that often happens with someone who's been rejected. He heard them say that too, so many times that aimlessly, in the bar, he often used to ponder words ending with "jection:" subjection, objection, injection, abjection, ejection. As far as he was concerned, they all had negative connotation. But he was comfortable with that. He felt they were his personal words, that, in a way, they summed him up. You might say Jason was a bit negative. That's what the guys in the bar often told him. Was he always negative, they'd ask him, half-jokingly. He didn't know. He couldn't remember a time when he wasn't, but he could clearly remember the first time he felt rejected.
He was four. Not long after his fourth birthday, his mother left. He didn't know why Mommy went. One day at lunchtime, when he came back from kindergarten, she was just not there. Now he's forty, but he still vividly remembers that day. Like most days. Gill Griffin, an older girl in his school, who lived near him, walked him home. That day, his father, looking grey and pale, was waiting outside the hall door. His father worked in town and was never home at this time. But that day, he was standing at the door. Forty years later, Jason can still smell the roast chicken Mrs. Sullivan next door was cooking and hear the song playing on her radio: "Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you." His mom's name was Suzanne. Ever since, Jason couldn't listen to James Taylor.
His first high school romance lasted three months and four days. His second about a month longer. No surprise then, that his one-and-only marriage was doomed to fail. And it did. After less than a year, his one-and-only wife left him. That was fifteen years ago. Since then, more than one counsellor told him that his problem was his fear of rejection. He didn't understand this. He thought everyone feared rejection. No, the analysts said, not everyone. Most people may consider the possibility, but they don't fear it. His problem was pathological, they said. He didn't just fear rejection, he brought it on himself. Because he feared it some much, he expected it. And because he expected it, subconsciously, he courted it. When it happened, as it always did, he felt, well, rejected, but strangely, also comforted, because, the world had worked out as it was supposed to. The counselors had a name for this, but he just called it a pain in the neck, and no big deal.
Problem was, it was a big deal and he knew it. He didn't know he knew it, but he knew it. Being rejected was his trade, his way of life, a sort of perverse comfort. He knew where he stood with rejection. Sure, it was a comfort with cruel sharp edges. But enough booze filed away those edges. So, voila, it was comfort with no cruel edges. And that was fine.
Becoming One With the Earth
Life is full of aches, pains, and stresses These things are the very
products of our day in and day out lives, not because of our bodies or
our bosses, but because we are out of tune with the world around us To
be at ease within we must first be in sync with the world, a task which
is not always easy to accomplish. There are, however, several simple
exercises that, if used regularly, can help to reduce stress and even
improve the quality of one's life in general.
1) Breathing: Even taking only about five minutes once or twice a day to really focus in on your breathing can make the day go that much better. Take a break out of your busy day, find a comfortable chair, relax, and start to feel your breath. Try to think only of your breathing, in and out, endlessly repeating, connecting you to the rest of humanity. Close your eyes and continue, living in the moment, in the breath, feeling both a sense of individuality and interconnection. Don't push other thoughts from your head but don't dwell upon them either; just let them pass through, focusing only on your breath.
2) Take a Walk: An other technique that can help one to resynchronize with the world's natural rhythm is to take a walk outdoors, even if it's only for 15 minutes a day. When you're walking, try not to focus on your day's problems or your concerns, but try to think about the natural world around you. Think about the basic life-force inherent in each plant, each animal you see. Consider what each is made of, and how you are similar to all other life, how you are a part of all other life and how it is a part of you. Again, if other thoughts come to you, don't try to push them away, but let them fade, not actively putting thought into them.
3) Lie on the Grass: Instead of sitting down and watching TV to relax, once a week try going outside and lying down on the grass Feel the grass and think about its life, how it connects to you and you connect to it. Center yourself. This technique can also be accomplished with a friend or spouse. Lie together on the grass and focus not only on the grass but also on each other, holding hands and lying close to one another. It can also be helpful to focus on one's breathing during this exercise, as it allows for a peaceful environment in which to do so.
With these three simple techniques one can begin to become one with all that is around him- or herself, synchronizing with nature in order to reduce stress and keep one's body and mind sound. To be at peace with the world is to be at peace with one's self, and therein lies the key to true happiness, a happiness that can be found only in unity and harmony.
1) Breathing: Even taking only about five minutes once or twice a day to really focus in on your breathing can make the day go that much better. Take a break out of your busy day, find a comfortable chair, relax, and start to feel your breath. Try to think only of your breathing, in and out, endlessly repeating, connecting you to the rest of humanity. Close your eyes and continue, living in the moment, in the breath, feeling both a sense of individuality and interconnection. Don't push other thoughts from your head but don't dwell upon them either; just let them pass through, focusing only on your breath.
2) Take a Walk: An other technique that can help one to resynchronize with the world's natural rhythm is to take a walk outdoors, even if it's only for 15 minutes a day. When you're walking, try not to focus on your day's problems or your concerns, but try to think about the natural world around you. Think about the basic life-force inherent in each plant, each animal you see. Consider what each is made of, and how you are similar to all other life, how you are a part of all other life and how it is a part of you. Again, if other thoughts come to you, don't try to push them away, but let them fade, not actively putting thought into them.
3) Lie on the Grass: Instead of sitting down and watching TV to relax, once a week try going outside and lying down on the grass Feel the grass and think about its life, how it connects to you and you connect to it. Center yourself. This technique can also be accomplished with a friend or spouse. Lie together on the grass and focus not only on the grass but also on each other, holding hands and lying close to one another. It can also be helpful to focus on one's breathing during this exercise, as it allows for a peaceful environment in which to do so.
With these three simple techniques one can begin to become one with all that is around him- or herself, synchronizing with nature in order to reduce stress and keep one's body and mind sound. To be at peace with the world is to be at peace with one's self, and therein lies the key to true happiness, a happiness that can be found only in unity and harmony.
Beat the Blues with Books: The Benefits of Bibliotherapy
Writing therapy has been shown to alleviate some symptoms associated
with depression, but it appears that reading content-specific prose and
poetry can also help depression-sufferers cope with their condition.
While bibliotherapy is used by clinically trained professionals to treat
patients with clinical depression, the practice is also used by
teachers and librarians to help facilitate various aspects of
development in children and adolescents. Formally developed as early as
the 1930s, bibliotherapy is simply about employing books to help people.
After WWII, many soldiers found help for their depression by reading and sharing their reading experiences with others By interacting with the written word, depression sufferers feel less alone. Specific content can allow readers to relate to the author or characters in a way that reduces their sense of isolation and even their sadness While, at the very least, a book can allow a person to mentally escape from their personal circumstances, at best, a book can help eliminate feelings of depression to the same degree that some other effective treatments can.
When used as part of a treatment regimen, bibliotherapy is designed to be specific to a patient's suffering or concerns Both works of fiction and non-fiction can form part of the prescribed reading for depression sufferers When bibliotherapy works well, a person will gain a greater understanding of their particular problem.
Experts warn that people with clinical signs of depression should not try to cure themselves by a self-prescribed form of bibliotherapy; they should consult a medically trained psychiatric professional. Also, bibliotherapy has not been shown to help people suffering from psychoses or thought disorders. According to research, people that suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or substance abuse can find some benefit from bibliotherapy.
While there is a plethora of books that can form bibliotherapy reading lists, there are many types of books that would offer little outside of the simple escapism that certain genres of books provide. The books chosen to enhance a person's psychiatric therapy tend to involve serious subject matter that can be discussed in a therapy session or within a therapeutic book group.
After WWII, many soldiers found help for their depression by reading and sharing their reading experiences with others By interacting with the written word, depression sufferers feel less alone. Specific content can allow readers to relate to the author or characters in a way that reduces their sense of isolation and even their sadness While, at the very least, a book can allow a person to mentally escape from their personal circumstances, at best, a book can help eliminate feelings of depression to the same degree that some other effective treatments can.
When used as part of a treatment regimen, bibliotherapy is designed to be specific to a patient's suffering or concerns Both works of fiction and non-fiction can form part of the prescribed reading for depression sufferers When bibliotherapy works well, a person will gain a greater understanding of their particular problem.
Experts warn that people with clinical signs of depression should not try to cure themselves by a self-prescribed form of bibliotherapy; they should consult a medically trained psychiatric professional. Also, bibliotherapy has not been shown to help people suffering from psychoses or thought disorders. According to research, people that suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, or substance abuse can find some benefit from bibliotherapy.
While there is a plethora of books that can form bibliotherapy reading lists, there are many types of books that would offer little outside of the simple escapism that certain genres of books provide. The books chosen to enhance a person's psychiatric therapy tend to involve serious subject matter that can be discussed in a therapy session or within a therapeutic book group.
Dancing Away the Hurts: Dance Movement Therapy
The bio-medical approach to treating mental illness, disabilities,
offending behaviour and addictive personalities works largely on a model
of diagnosis and medication. The social or psychoanalytical approach
takes a different, more holistic view of the individual. Sociologist
Jerry Tew explains that the social model looks at the conditioning of
the patient that has led to her belief systems, mores and lived
experiences, in order to find the underlying causes of her symptoms, and
to approach them in an understanding, supportive way. This can operate
in very different ways, from dialogical analysis to creative analysis
therapies such as art therapy or Dance Movement Therapy.
Carl Gustav Jung, the Swiss psychoanalyst, argued that talking therapy helps the individual to examine her unconscious life patterns and the traumas that have created them. Through this process of recognising the key elements of the self, recovery can take place. The process can be painstaking and gradual, but it is almost always liberating.
Moving Away from the Medicalisation of Addiction and Mental Illness
Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) sets itself apart from both the diagnostic approach to mental illness and the dialogical or verbal approach of talking therapy. It unites and invigorates the interface between mind, body and spirit. It connects them through a creative expression that releases the emotions and liberates the self. Professionals who work with what are seen as marginalised, disabled or dysfunctional groups-criminals, the mentally ill, and people with addictions-will testify to how difficult these people can find it to communicate those deeper aspects of themselves that may have gone unexpressed for years. It is one thing to offer help; it is another matter altogether to expect the recipient to know how to respond, or to be able to.
Dance Movement Therapy opens up expression that does not require words - it can provide outlets where words are not even possible. The clients who partake in it, because of their marginalising circumstances, are often coming from a place of social isolation, and Dance Movement Therapy can fill that empty space in a way that is simultaneously healing and sociable. The feeling of liberation comes partly from being able to take part in a group activity without having to find the right words for a conversation.
The Benefits of Dance Movement Therapy
Psychological and physical trauma cause tension in the muscles and joints of the body. Jim Folk, a writer for an anxiety awareness website, explains how anxiety and stress create physical aches and pains, spasm and stiffness in the body, because these symptoms function as physical outlets for negative emotions. During a Dance Movement Therapy session, this tension is expended through the body's free movements and its growing awareness of itself as a moving, breathing object that has a connection with the physical space around it. Everyone has unique, individual patterns of moving, and these sessions allow the individual to tune into her body's potential, and become at ease with herself through free dance and movement.
The body is a complex creation of infinite detail, strong and yet vulnerable and prone to breakage, emotionally and physically. While it breathes, it contains a bottomless reservoir of energy that is expressed in every movement - a wink, a sneeze, a sob. If we could see through the skin, muscle and bone, we would see these energy impulses twinkling and connecting, a macrocosm of emotional and physical communication. This wonderful, internal dance of potential energy is recreated and reflected in the movement of the therapeutic dance — a joining of mind, spirit, the unplanned and the unknown in a physical, bodily work of art.
How does Dance Movement Therapy Heal?
Marian Chace, a key figure in the evolution of modem dance, worked with a group of non-speaking patients at a nearby psychiatric hospital in 1942. She had noticed that her own students' sense of wellness increased when they were training, and that what was taking place was the expression of emotion rather than intense concentration on the techniques of the various dances. Chace remained convinced about the benefits
Carl Gustav Jung, the Swiss psychoanalyst, argued that talking therapy helps the individual to examine her unconscious life patterns and the traumas that have created them. Through this process of recognising the key elements of the self, recovery can take place. The process can be painstaking and gradual, but it is almost always liberating.
Moving Away from the Medicalisation of Addiction and Mental Illness
Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) sets itself apart from both the diagnostic approach to mental illness and the dialogical or verbal approach of talking therapy. It unites and invigorates the interface between mind, body and spirit. It connects them through a creative expression that releases the emotions and liberates the self. Professionals who work with what are seen as marginalised, disabled or dysfunctional groups-criminals, the mentally ill, and people with addictions-will testify to how difficult these people can find it to communicate those deeper aspects of themselves that may have gone unexpressed for years. It is one thing to offer help; it is another matter altogether to expect the recipient to know how to respond, or to be able to.
Dance Movement Therapy opens up expression that does not require words - it can provide outlets where words are not even possible. The clients who partake in it, because of their marginalising circumstances, are often coming from a place of social isolation, and Dance Movement Therapy can fill that empty space in a way that is simultaneously healing and sociable. The feeling of liberation comes partly from being able to take part in a group activity without having to find the right words for a conversation.
The Benefits of Dance Movement Therapy
Psychological and physical trauma cause tension in the muscles and joints of the body. Jim Folk, a writer for an anxiety awareness website, explains how anxiety and stress create physical aches and pains, spasm and stiffness in the body, because these symptoms function as physical outlets for negative emotions. During a Dance Movement Therapy session, this tension is expended through the body's free movements and its growing awareness of itself as a moving, breathing object that has a connection with the physical space around it. Everyone has unique, individual patterns of moving, and these sessions allow the individual to tune into her body's potential, and become at ease with herself through free dance and movement.
The body is a complex creation of infinite detail, strong and yet vulnerable and prone to breakage, emotionally and physically. While it breathes, it contains a bottomless reservoir of energy that is expressed in every movement - a wink, a sneeze, a sob. If we could see through the skin, muscle and bone, we would see these energy impulses twinkling and connecting, a macrocosm of emotional and physical communication. This wonderful, internal dance of potential energy is recreated and reflected in the movement of the therapeutic dance — a joining of mind, spirit, the unplanned and the unknown in a physical, bodily work of art.
How does Dance Movement Therapy Heal?
Marian Chace, a key figure in the evolution of modem dance, worked with a group of non-speaking patients at a nearby psychiatric hospital in 1942. She had noticed that her own students' sense of wellness increased when they were training, and that what was taking place was the expression of emotion rather than intense concentration on the techniques of the various dances. Chace remained convinced about the benefits
Dysthymia: There is Nothing Mild About Mild Depression
Millions of healthy individuals experience brief periods of sadness
or despair. Most will recover from a negative mood with time or when
situational triggers have been resolved. Others, however, carry the
burden of melancholy endlessly, unaware they may actually be suffering
from a treatable medical condition.
Mild depression that persists for years is called dysthymia, or dysthymic disorder. It is a clinical condition for which treatment is strongly recommended. The long term consequences of this chronic mood disorder can be as destructive and deadly as any other form of depression.
Dysthymic Disorder
Dysthymia is a depressive disorder that shares many of the characteristics of major depression, but to a lesser extent. Both effect mood, alter behavior, and impair one's ability to function normally, but where the impact of major depression is easily identifiable, the symptoms of dysthymia can be so subtle they are confused for personality traits Mild depression often goes undiagnosed because the symptoms are somewhat manageable and individuals learn to accept and compensate for their depressed state.
Another important distinction between major depression and dysthymia is the time a person is typically afflicted.Major depression may last indefinitely, but need only persist two weeks to qualify for diagnosis. Dysthymic disorder, by definition, lasts at least two years or more. According to the Mayo Clinic, though the symptoms of dysthymia are milder, the condition can be more detrimental than major depression simply because it affects individuals for so long.
Symptoms
Dysthymia can disrupt all aspects of daily living. Harvard Medical School reports common symptoms of dysthymic disorder include depression, fatigue, impaired thinking, feelings of worthlessness, lack of hope, changes in appetite, and sleep disturbance. Individuals do not need to experience all these symptoms to be considered clinically dysthymic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains a diagnosis of dysthymia requires two consecutive years of a predominantly depressed state along with two other symptoms that are also present for the majority of those two years.
Risk Factors
The Office of the Surgeon General estimates two percent of adults experience dysthymia in any given year. Certain risk factors increase the likelihood of being affected by the condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, individuals are at heightened risk for dysthymic disorder if they have a family history of depressive disorders, experience chronic illness, or battle stress Dr. Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic reports women are twice as likely as men to develop this form of depression.
Treatment
Many dysthymic adults do not seek treatment, believing their mild depression is a natural part of life. These individuals may successfully manage their symptoms and function fairly well for some time. Without treatment, however, symptoms of dysthymia can become more severe and disabling.
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) warns dysthymic disorder is likely to progress to major depression if left untreated. The presence of both dysthymia and major depression is commonly referred to as "double depression'. JHU further cautions that dysthymia is not a minor condition, but one that carries significant health risks, including suicide. Therapeutic intervention should take place before patients deteriorate into mental health crisis
Dysthymia treatment options consist mainly of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, medication is slower to work and generally less effective in treating dysthymic disorder than major depression. The agency suggests using both treatment options to achieve greater recovery.
Mild depression that persists for years is called dysthymia, or dysthymic disorder. It is a clinical condition for which treatment is strongly recommended. The long term consequences of this chronic mood disorder can be as destructive and deadly as any other form of depression.
Dysthymic Disorder
Dysthymia is a depressive disorder that shares many of the characteristics of major depression, but to a lesser extent. Both effect mood, alter behavior, and impair one's ability to function normally, but where the impact of major depression is easily identifiable, the symptoms of dysthymia can be so subtle they are confused for personality traits Mild depression often goes undiagnosed because the symptoms are somewhat manageable and individuals learn to accept and compensate for their depressed state.
Another important distinction between major depression and dysthymia is the time a person is typically afflicted.Major depression may last indefinitely, but need only persist two weeks to qualify for diagnosis. Dysthymic disorder, by definition, lasts at least two years or more. According to the Mayo Clinic, though the symptoms of dysthymia are milder, the condition can be more detrimental than major depression simply because it affects individuals for so long.
Symptoms
Dysthymia can disrupt all aspects of daily living. Harvard Medical School reports common symptoms of dysthymic disorder include depression, fatigue, impaired thinking, feelings of worthlessness, lack of hope, changes in appetite, and sleep disturbance. Individuals do not need to experience all these symptoms to be considered clinically dysthymic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains a diagnosis of dysthymia requires two consecutive years of a predominantly depressed state along with two other symptoms that are also present for the majority of those two years.
Risk Factors
The Office of the Surgeon General estimates two percent of adults experience dysthymia in any given year. Certain risk factors increase the likelihood of being affected by the condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, individuals are at heightened risk for dysthymic disorder if they have a family history of depressive disorders, experience chronic illness, or battle stress Dr. Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D. of the Mayo Clinic reports women are twice as likely as men to develop this form of depression.
Treatment
Many dysthymic adults do not seek treatment, believing their mild depression is a natural part of life. These individuals may successfully manage their symptoms and function fairly well for some time. Without treatment, however, symptoms of dysthymia can become more severe and disabling.
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) warns dysthymic disorder is likely to progress to major depression if left untreated. The presence of both dysthymia and major depression is commonly referred to as "double depression'. JHU further cautions that dysthymia is not a minor condition, but one that carries significant health risks, including suicide. Therapeutic intervention should take place before patients deteriorate into mental health crisis
Dysthymia treatment options consist mainly of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, medication is slower to work and generally less effective in treating dysthymic disorder than major depression. The agency suggests using both treatment options to achieve greater recovery.
Recognizing Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Three Oppositional Defiant Disorder Children
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a psychiatric
condition in which young people consistently defy, disrespect, and
argue with adults. ODD sufferers are overwhelmed by feelings of anger,
hostility, and resentment much of the time. Although some rebellion is
normal during the developmental years, children and teens with ODD take
their defiant behavior to an extreme.
ODD frustrates parents and teachers. It disrupts life at home and deters learning at school. Categorized as an official psychiatric disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ODD is a heavy burden for any child to carry alone. Adults cannot realistically expect an ODD sufferer to simply "snap out of it". Unfortunately, this is often what happens. Parents and teachers who don't understand the severe and uncontrollable nature of ODD may aggravate the situation by showing anger and inflicting harsh punishments on the ODD child. The child then becomes even more defiant than before, and the situation escalates until both child and adult are drowning in a sea of negativity.
The faces of ODD are different, but the heart of the problem is always the same: a suffering child is overwhelmed by negative emotions with which he has no way to cope. The following three subjects all suffer from various manifestations of the disease:
George
George is six years old. He's missed so much school that a truancy officer finally paid a visit to his home. George's mother told the officer that George hates school and the only way she can get him there is to drag him, kicking and screaming. But this is only half the truth. George's mother is frequently too hung over to get out of bed and deal with George. When she does bring him to school, the principal usually ends up sending him home for bad behavior. George has been suspended for biting, swearing, pulling the fire alarm, and bringing a knife to school. It's a miracle he hasn't been expelled.
Analysis Like George, children with ODD often come from alcoholic homes. Most kids his age put adults to the test from time to time, but George's misbehavior far exceeds normal limits The fact that he's been defying parental and school authority long enough to get a law officer involved is a strong indicator of ODD.
Tony
Tony is nine years old. He flunked third grade last year because he spent too much time arguing with his teacher and not enough time learning. Consequently, Tony is a head taller than all of his classmates. But that's not the only reason Tony sticks out at school. At least once a day, he throws a tantrum. "You're not the boss of me!" seems to be his mantra. The tantrums are usually sparked by a trivial incident, like a classmate bumping into him or the teacher asking him to do something he doesn't want to do. Kids at school avoid Tony. Behind his back, they make fun of him. Tony doesn't seem to care; he says his classmates are "annoying" and "stupid". He claims he'd much rather spend his time playing video games at home. Analysis Tony has become socially isolated by his own negative behavior. He's defensive, touchy, and always seems to assume the worst about people. When a child's consistently negative behavior interferes with his ability to make friends and succeed in school, the diagnosis is often ODD.
Joanne
Joanne is fourteen years old. At school, she is quiet and fairly cooperative (although her teachers must sometimes ask her to do things twice). At home, Joanne is completely different. She deliberately disobeys every request her parents make. If they ask her to come to dinner, she plops down in front of the TV. If they ask her to turn off the TV, she huristhe remote control across the room and screams about how Mom and Dad are "so unfair". The only time her parents get any peace is when Joanne watches television in her room. They know their daughter spends too much time in front of the TV, but they're so tired and overwhelmed by Joanne's constant negativity, they don't know what else to do.
Analysis. Some children with ODD manage to keep a normal profile at school while their home life suffers, or vice versa. Although Joanne is doing okay in school, her parents are distressed by her constant disobedience at home. The deterioration of Joanne's relationship with her parents over seemingly trivial matters is suggestive of ODD.
George, Tony, and Joanne are not typical children. They are psychologically troubled children, engulfed by negative emotions and behaviors over which they feel they have no control. Without the tools to handle their feelings, these children are in danger of academic and social failure. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, untreated ODD can progress to Conduct Disorder, a more violent and severe form of the disease. When Conduct Disorder persists into adulthood, the diagnosis becomes Antisocial Personality Disorder, a label worn by many criminals
Parents and teachers are understandably exasperated by children with ODD. It's important to realize that no child suffers ODD on purpose. Although the cause of ODD is unclear, effective treatments are available, including medication and psychotherapy. Only a professional can diagnose ODD, but parents, teachers, and other caring adults can learn to identify ODD characteristics and offer empathy to children who display symptoms.
ODD frustrates parents and teachers. It disrupts life at home and deters learning at school. Categorized as an official psychiatric disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ODD is a heavy burden for any child to carry alone. Adults cannot realistically expect an ODD sufferer to simply "snap out of it". Unfortunately, this is often what happens. Parents and teachers who don't understand the severe and uncontrollable nature of ODD may aggravate the situation by showing anger and inflicting harsh punishments on the ODD child. The child then becomes even more defiant than before, and the situation escalates until both child and adult are drowning in a sea of negativity.
The faces of ODD are different, but the heart of the problem is always the same: a suffering child is overwhelmed by negative emotions with which he has no way to cope. The following three subjects all suffer from various manifestations of the disease:
George
George is six years old. He's missed so much school that a truancy officer finally paid a visit to his home. George's mother told the officer that George hates school and the only way she can get him there is to drag him, kicking and screaming. But this is only half the truth. George's mother is frequently too hung over to get out of bed and deal with George. When she does bring him to school, the principal usually ends up sending him home for bad behavior. George has been suspended for biting, swearing, pulling the fire alarm, and bringing a knife to school. It's a miracle he hasn't been expelled.
Analysis Like George, children with ODD often come from alcoholic homes. Most kids his age put adults to the test from time to time, but George's misbehavior far exceeds normal limits The fact that he's been defying parental and school authority long enough to get a law officer involved is a strong indicator of ODD.
Tony
Tony is nine years old. He flunked third grade last year because he spent too much time arguing with his teacher and not enough time learning. Consequently, Tony is a head taller than all of his classmates. But that's not the only reason Tony sticks out at school. At least once a day, he throws a tantrum. "You're not the boss of me!" seems to be his mantra. The tantrums are usually sparked by a trivial incident, like a classmate bumping into him or the teacher asking him to do something he doesn't want to do. Kids at school avoid Tony. Behind his back, they make fun of him. Tony doesn't seem to care; he says his classmates are "annoying" and "stupid". He claims he'd much rather spend his time playing video games at home. Analysis Tony has become socially isolated by his own negative behavior. He's defensive, touchy, and always seems to assume the worst about people. When a child's consistently negative behavior interferes with his ability to make friends and succeed in school, the diagnosis is often ODD.
Joanne
Joanne is fourteen years old. At school, she is quiet and fairly cooperative (although her teachers must sometimes ask her to do things twice). At home, Joanne is completely different. She deliberately disobeys every request her parents make. If they ask her to come to dinner, she plops down in front of the TV. If they ask her to turn off the TV, she huristhe remote control across the room and screams about how Mom and Dad are "so unfair". The only time her parents get any peace is when Joanne watches television in her room. They know their daughter spends too much time in front of the TV, but they're so tired and overwhelmed by Joanne's constant negativity, they don't know what else to do.
Analysis. Some children with ODD manage to keep a normal profile at school while their home life suffers, or vice versa. Although Joanne is doing okay in school, her parents are distressed by her constant disobedience at home. The deterioration of Joanne's relationship with her parents over seemingly trivial matters is suggestive of ODD.
George, Tony, and Joanne are not typical children. They are psychologically troubled children, engulfed by negative emotions and behaviors over which they feel they have no control. Without the tools to handle their feelings, these children are in danger of academic and social failure. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, untreated ODD can progress to Conduct Disorder, a more violent and severe form of the disease. When Conduct Disorder persists into adulthood, the diagnosis becomes Antisocial Personality Disorder, a label worn by many criminals
Parents and teachers are understandably exasperated by children with ODD. It's important to realize that no child suffers ODD on purpose. Although the cause of ODD is unclear, effective treatments are available, including medication and psychotherapy. Only a professional can diagnose ODD, but parents, teachers, and other caring adults can learn to identify ODD characteristics and offer empathy to children who display symptoms.
Obsession: Anxiety in Eating Disorders
Contrary to popular belief, the mental disorder with the highest
mortality rate is not schizophrenia or even depression, but eating
disorders About 90 % of those who develop the top three eating
disorders- anorexia, bulimia, and a combination of the two (ED-NOS) -are
girls and young women in their teens and twenties, most displaying
symptoms during adolescence. It is said that the stress of transitioning
from childhood to adulthood can cause the onset of such a disease. If
there were some miracle method to determine which of us are likely to
develop an eating disorder, it would be possible to prevent the
staggering number of deaths related to eating disorders because,
shockingly, up to 20% of those suffering from an eating disorder will
suffer until it takes their lives.
A common symptom of bulimia nervosa is the compulsion to purge after eating, and child psychiatrists say that a staggering 13X of high school girl spurge. The occurrence of eating disordered behavior has doubled since the 60s and are hurting younger and younger groups of girls Childhood anxiety is believed to be an important factor in the probability of a young person developing an eating disorder. Researchers claim to have discovered a strong link between eating disorders and anxiety which suggests that treatment of the eating disorder along with the underlying anxiety could increase the rate of recovery from eating disorders If this is true, treating anxiety at a young age could possibly prevent the onset of an eating disorder later in life. Two thirds of those struggling with an eating disorder have, in the past, suffered some form of anxiety, like obsessive compulsive disorder, the symptoms of which displayed themselves years before the eating disorder itself.
While only 13% to 30 of healthy women experience anxiety, an unbelievable 6 6% of those suffering from eating disorders experience anxiety, and among many eating disordered patients, the anxiety is not only present throughout the term of the eating disorder, but persists even after the women have recovered from their eating disorders. Even those women undergoing eating disorder treatment who are not diagnosed with any anxiety disorders display anxiety traits, the most obvious of which is perfectionism.
Anxiety in children is something that should not be ignored, as it can lead to much more serious and life threatening problems. Anxiety has been known to be a precursor to depression, but it is suspected to be a risk factor for the development of eating disorders The idea that the risk of eating disorder onset can possibly be prevented by the combat of anxiety early in life through cognitive behavior therapy is only a small comfort considering the mortality rate among those suffering with an eating disorder.
A common symptom of bulimia nervosa is the compulsion to purge after eating, and child psychiatrists say that a staggering 13X of high school girl spurge. The occurrence of eating disordered behavior has doubled since the 60s and are hurting younger and younger groups of girls Childhood anxiety is believed to be an important factor in the probability of a young person developing an eating disorder. Researchers claim to have discovered a strong link between eating disorders and anxiety which suggests that treatment of the eating disorder along with the underlying anxiety could increase the rate of recovery from eating disorders If this is true, treating anxiety at a young age could possibly prevent the onset of an eating disorder later in life. Two thirds of those struggling with an eating disorder have, in the past, suffered some form of anxiety, like obsessive compulsive disorder, the symptoms of which displayed themselves years before the eating disorder itself.
While only 13% to 30 of healthy women experience anxiety, an unbelievable 6 6% of those suffering from eating disorders experience anxiety, and among many eating disordered patients, the anxiety is not only present throughout the term of the eating disorder, but persists even after the women have recovered from their eating disorders. Even those women undergoing eating disorder treatment who are not diagnosed with any anxiety disorders display anxiety traits, the most obvious of which is perfectionism.
Anxiety in children is something that should not be ignored, as it can lead to much more serious and life threatening problems. Anxiety has been known to be a precursor to depression, but it is suspected to be a risk factor for the development of eating disorders The idea that the risk of eating disorder onset can possibly be prevented by the combat of anxiety early in life through cognitive behavior therapy is only a small comfort considering the mortality rate among those suffering with an eating disorder.
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