Emotional Disturbance: Causes and Symptoms

Overview

Emotional disturbance is characterized by the inability to maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships, pervasive unhappiness, depression, or inappropriate behavior under normal circumstances.

• Often includes conditions like schizophrenia
• Distinct from socially maladjusted individuals unless an emotional disorder is present
• Can be linked with behavioral disorders

Prevalence

• 1 in 10 people in the U.S. experience emotional disturbances
• Impact on both school-aged children and adults
• 5.4% of students with disabilities identified with emotional disturbance in 2018-19

Common Types of Emotional Disturbances

Anxiety Disorders

• Excessive, persistent, and overwhelming fear
• Includes panic disorder, PTSD, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias

Bipolar Disorders

• Dramatic mood swings from depressive lows to manic highs
• Known as manic-depressive illness

Conduct Disorder

• Difficulty in socially acceptable behavior
• Aggression, destruction, non-adherence to rules

Eating Disorders

• Extremes in eating behavior (e.g., anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Recurrent, unwanted thoughts and compulsions
• Chemical imbalance in the brain

Psychotic Disorders

• Disconnection from reality, includes delusions and hallucinations

Causes of Emotional Disturbance

Family Environment

• Chronic stress, authoritarian parenting, lack of positive interactions

Diet

• Poor eating patterns linked to mood swings and emotional disorders

Miscellaneous Factors

• Brain disorders, hereditary stress, trauma

Symptoms and Characteristics

• Hyperactivity, aggression, learning difficulties, withdrawal
• Serious symptoms might include distorted thinking, excessive anxiety, mood swings

Diagnosis

• Conducted by mental health professionals using functional behavioral assessments

Treatment at Anew Treatment Center

Therapy

• Involves cognitive therapy and social skills training
• Family counseling to aid healing

Medication

• ADHD medications can reduce symptoms like hyperactivity
• Common stimulants include Adderall, Ritalin

Finding Help

• Anew Treatment Center offers residential and outpatient treatment programs
• Experienced in handling emotional and behavioral disorders