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This film provides great Information regarding how anxiety affects people in their daily lives.

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Angelo State University - Library Online Resources

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Unauthorized use is prohibited; Usage may be subject to security testing and monitoring; Misuse is subject to criminal prosecution; No expectation of privacy except as otherwise provided by applicable privacy laws.

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Personal Presentation Reviewing Eating Disorders

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Personal Presentation Reviewing Eating Disorders

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Thank You! Eating Disorders Faculty and Staff Resource Coy Hall Introduction Introduction Eating disorders involve issues specifically associated with the improper consumption of food. Eating disorders typically involve either overeating or eating too little. This usually stems A

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This link provides general information for eating disorders. This includes characteristics and causes.

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Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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Learn about depression, including types, signs and symptoms, risk factors, treatments and therapies, and things you can do to help during treatment.

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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Overview

Bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

There are three types of bipolar disorder. All three types involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range from periods of extremely "up," elated, irritable, or energized behavior (known as manic episodes) to very "down," sad, indifferent, or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes). Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes.

Bipolar I Disorder- defined by manic episodes that last at least 7 days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks. Episodes of depression with mixed features (having depressive symptoms and manic symptoms at the same time) are also possible.

Bipolar II Disorder- defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but not the full-blown manic episodes that are typical of Bipolar I Disorder.

Cyclothymic Disorder (also called Cyclothymia)- defined by periods of hypomanic symptoms as well as periods of depressive symptoms lasting for at least 2 years (1 year in children and adolescents). However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for a hypomanic episode and a depressive episode.

Sometimes a person might experience symptoms of bipolar disorder that do not match the three categories listed above, which is referred to as "other specified and unspecified bipolar and related disorders."

Bipolar disorder is typically diagnosed during late adolescence (teen years) or early adulthood. Occasionally, bipolar symptoms can appear in children. Bipolar disorder can also first appear during a woman's pregnancy or following childbirth. Although the symptoms may vary over time, bipolar disorder usually requires lifelong treatment. Following a prescribed treatment plan can help people manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Signs and Symptoms

Risk Factors

Treatments and Therapies

Join a Study

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Bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depressive illness or manic depression) is a mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. There are three types of bipolar disorder. All three types involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels.

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality, which can be distressing for them and for their family and friends. The symptoms of schizophrenia can make it difficult to participate in usual, everyday activities, but effective treatments are available. Many people who receive treatment can engage in school or work, achieve independence, and enjoy personal relationships.

What are the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia?

What are the risk factors for schizophrenia?

How is schizophrenia treated?

How can I find help for schizophrenia?

How can I find a clinical trial for schizophrenia?

Where can I learn more about schizophrenia?

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Learn about schizophrenia, including onset & symptoms, risk factors, treatments and therapies, how to help a loved one, & resources for more information.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood.

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ERIC - Education Resources Information Center

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ERIC is an online library of education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education.

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Imagine if you had a soundtrack of terrible thoughts and urges playing in your head on repeat or an ever-present fear of germs or hurting others. Doing things in a certain order or checking the stove 15 times before leaving the house would be the norm.

Now, imagine the affect these constant thoughts, urges, and compulsions - also known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - would have on relationships with a romantic partner, family, friend or work colleague?

The challenges on both sides are real, but with the proper tools and information, those with OCD can engage in positive and healthy relationships personally and professionally.

All about OCD

OCD impacts nearly 2.2 millions American adults each year and is defined by The National Institute of Mental Health as "a common, chronic, and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over."

OCD is characterized by three features:

1. Obsessions: Unwanted thoughts or urges

2. Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or thoughts used to neutralize a negative feeling

3. Anxiety: Excessive uneasiness or apprehension

Difficulties on both sides:

OCD is so disabling and distressing (it's ranked as one of the 10 most handicapping conditions in terms of lost income and decreased quality of life according to The World Health Organization), and can add tremendous emotional strain on both sides of the relationship.

The video below showcases comedian, actor and television host, Howie Mandel, his struggles with OCD and how it's affected his family and life:

The impact on relationships:

Taking the features of OCD into account, how does this disorder typically affect relationships?

With romantic partner/spouse:

LuAnn Pierce, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, says,

"Many who have OCD and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) choose not to date and avoid intimate relationships. There are many reasons people resort to this choice; chief among them is the desire to prevent or lessen their anxiety through avoidance of stressful situations."

OCD sufferers have a heightened sense of fear and lack of security, which can manifest itself in the need for constant reassurance from their partner or spouse. On the other side of OCD, you might find yourself incessantly saying things such as, " Yes, I love you." OR " Yes, you look beautiful". The need to constantly validate feelings or intentions have the potential to be exhausting and feel futile.

Relationship OCD also exists. Because close relationships are so highly emotional, they often become the primary focus of a person's OCD. In other words, their thoughts and anxieties will center around their loved one. This subtype of OCD in which a sufferer constantly questions their relationship with their partner often sounds like: Do I really love my partner? Is he/she the right person for me? I don't like how their laugh sounds, does that mean we should break up? Whether it's security, compatibility, or intimacy, with OCD sufferers, there's heightened anxiety about these relationships.

"Most people experience occasional doubt about relationships, but for people experiencing relationship OCD, anxiety, and doubt hijack their relationships," says Misti Nicholson, PsyD, director and clinical psychologist at Austin Anxiety & OCD Specialists to Health.com.

Depending on the degree of a sufferer's OCD, it's possible that their affliction can become the primary focus of the relationship, which may result in resentment on the other side.

Fears about contamination, germs, and cleanliness are very common with OCD, which may lead to problems with physical closeness, being touched and overall affection. That said, those with OCD are prone to intimacy issues.

According to Owen Kelly, Ph.D., research suggests that people with OCD report higher than average levels of problems with sexual functioning. It is not uncommon for sufferers to experience:

Trouble becoming sexually aroused

A low sex drive

Dissatisfaction with their sexual partner

A fear of having sex

High levels of disgust when thinking about sexual activities

As a result, partners may battle feelings of rejection, inadequacy, and resentment if their physical and sexual needs are not being met.

With family & friends:

Depending on the severity of their condition, OCD sufferers' compulsions can often be a challenge for family members or close friends. They need to allow time, space and energy for someone with OCD to carry out these rituals and may find themselves deeply involved in these behaviors. Participating in these compulsions can be difficult, demanding, tiresome and continuously test one's patience. These loved ones may also struggle with having to assume responsibility and care for many daily tasks that the OCD sufferer is unable to manage, leading to distress and disruption for everyone.

People with OCD can also be very depressed because of their extreme fears, thoughts, and anxiety. These feelings can weigh heavily on others, especially close family and friends.

According to Owen Kelly, Ph.D., "Depression in people with OCD most often occurs after the onset of OCD symptoms. What this suggests is that the depression may be related to the personal stress of living with OCD or troubles that have developed at home or work as the result of the disease."

OCD sufferers may struggle with self-esteem issues or feelings of shame, embarrassment, and insecurity, which may result in a lack of interest in being around other people. This may leave friends and family grappling with their own feelings of isolation and sadness.

With work colleagues:

Due to anxiety and compulsions, an OCD sufferer in the workplace may have trouble with things such as productivity, performance, and punctuality. Severe symptoms can take up many hours of a person's day, making normal work tasks a challenge. As a result, strained relationships with management and colleagues may be common.

Many OCD sufferers choose to suffer in silence and not disclose their condition out of fear of discrimination. In fact, only 1 in 4 people share their disorder with their employer, as many worry that promotion opportunities will be hampered and their boss will think it's an excuse to get out of work. This suffering in silence may result in feelings of isolation, separation and a lack of interest in participating in office culture.

Here are a few other ways OCD can impact work relationships:

The avoidance of certain people or tasks because they trigger anxiety or negative thoughts

Constant worry about how coworkers view you and your OCD behavior

Feelings of discrimination from colleagues

Resentment from colleagues due to the need for breaks and time disruptions to allow for rituals or compulsion

The video below addresses the difficulties an OCD sufferer may feel in the workplace and with colleagues:

Tips for maintaining a positive relationship with an OCD sufferer

Despite their feelings of frustration and distress, those suffering from OCD can lead happy, highly functioning, productive lives, full of healthy relationships. When spouses/partners, family members, friends, and colleagues are more informed about OCD, it is easier to be supportive and understanding.

If you have someone with OCD in your life, here are some tips to handle these often complicated and delicate relationships:

1. It starts with connecting with the OCD sufferer, acknowledging that OCD exists, respecting the pain it may cause on all sides, and bringing communication, education, and compassion to the forefront

2. Stay focused on understanding the difference between the behavioral symptoms of OCD and the person in your life. Continuously remind yourself of this statement, "I know this is not you, this is your OCD."

3. Encourage the OCD sufferer to seek professional help, as it is treatable with options such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Ritual Prevention. Offer to participate in a session so that you can learn how best to support their treatment program

4. It's just as important for the loved ones of those suffering from OCD to seek support as well. Whether it's a support group, therapy, meditation or stress-relieving outlets like exercise or a favorite hobby, it's imperative that you make yourself a priority

5. As difficult as it may be, don't reinforce and participate in OCD compulsions, as these behavior patterns may obstruct the person's recovery. Involvement in rituals should be reduced in a very gradual way as part of an agreed-upon treatment plan

6. Try to be patient, non-judgmental and supportive, as this will enable the sufferer to focus their efforts on recovery versus dealing with anger and resentment

OCD sufferers don't need to feel paralyzed by their symptoms and can go on to engage in healthy, fulfilling relationships. On the flipside, it's with compassion, patience and the right type of support that people on the other side of the relationship can feel more at peace and able to face the challenges that may arise.

* Content published by the American Brain Society (ABS), such as text, graphics, reports, images, and other materials created by ABS and other materials contained on americanbrainsociety.org are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the americanbrainsociety.org.

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The Impact of OCD on Relationships | American Brain Society

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Imagine if you had a soundtrack of terrible thoughts and urges playing in your head on repeat or an ever-present fear of germs or hurting others. Doing things in a certain order or checking the stove 15 times before leaving the house would be the norm.

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What is OCD? | International OCD Foundation

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Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that trigger intensely distressing feelings.…

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When a student has a classic learning disability (for example, dyslexia), the inability to read fluently is consistent across time. It doesn't matter what day, time, or class it is, or which teacher is teaching. Such students' inability to match letters to the sounds those letters make is fixed. However, if a student has anxiety, he or she may perform differently from day to day, or even class to class. In other words, for students with anxiety, the "can't do's" are unpredictable, and this is because anxiety is influenced by many different factors.
For example, if a child has emetophobia (a phobia of vomit), he or she might not experience any anxiety, and thus function well, until something triggers his/her fear, such as proximity to a sick classmate, over-hearing someone talk about vomit, or feeling nauseous. Once anxious, the student may not be able to pay attention in class, participate in class discussions, or perform well on assessments. Unless the child discloses what is going on, the teacher will have no idea why the student's performance has suffered, and, as a result, may misinterpret the student's difficulty as a lack of motivation or effort.

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What to Look For in the Classroom | Anxiety In The Classroom

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When a student has a classic learning disability (for example, dyslexia), the inability to read fluently is consistent across time. It doesn't matter what day, time, or class it is, or which teacher is teaching. Such students' inability to match letters to the sounds those letters make is fixed.