Panic disorder

Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. A person experiencing a panic attack may believe that he or she is having a heart attack or that death is imminent. The fear and terror that a person experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them. Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms:

Signs and Symptoms: Binge eating of high-carbohydrate foods, usually in secret Exercising for hours Eating until painfully full Going to the bathroom during meals Loss of control over eating, with guilt and shame Body weight that goes up and down Constipation, diarrhea, nausea, gas, abdominal pain Dehydration Missed periods or lack of menstrual periods Damaged tooth enamel Bad breath Sore throat or mouth sores Depression

"Racing" heart Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers Sense of terror, of impending doom or death Feeling sweaty or having chills Chest pains Breathing difficulties Feeling a loss of control

Panic attacks are generally brief, lasting less than ten minutes, although some of the symptoms may persist for a longer time. People who have had one panic attack are at greater risk for having subsequent panic attacks than those who have never experienced a panic attack. When the attacks occur repeatedly, a person is considered to have a condition known as Panic Disorder.

What Causes It? No one knows what causes bulimia, although there are several theories. Genes may play a part -- there is some evidence that women who have a sister or mother with bulimia are at higher risk of developing the condition. Families may put an too much emphasis on achievement, or may be overly critical. Psychological factors may also play a part including having low selfesteem, not being able to control impulsive behaviors, and having trouble expressing anger. Some people with bulimia may have a history of sexual abuse. People with bulimia may also experience depression, self-mutilation, substance abuse, and obsessive-compulsive behavior. Cultural pressures to look thin can also play a part, particularly among dancers and athletes.

Bulimia nervosa Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder in which a person binges and purges. The person may eat a lot of food at once and then try to get rid of the food by vomiting, using laxatives, or sometimes overexercising. People with bulimia are preoccupied with their weight and body image. Bulimia is associated with depression and other psychiatric disorders. It shares some symptoms with anorexia nervosa, another major eating disorder. Because many people with bulimia can maintain a normal weight, they may be able to keep their condition a secret for years. If not treated, bulimia can lead to nutritional deficiencies and even fatal complications.

What is anorexia nervosa? Anorexia nervosa (say "an-uh-RECK-see-uh nur-VOH-suh") is a type of eating disorder. People who have anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight. They severely limit the amount of food they eat and can become dangerously thin. Anorexia affects both the body and the mind. It may start as dieting, but it gets out of control. You think about food, dieting, andweight all the time. You have a distorted body image. Other people say you are too thin, but when you look in the mirror, you see a fat person. Anorexia usually starts in the teen years. It's much more common in females than males. Early treatment can be very effective. But if not treated early, anorexia can become a lifelong problem. Untreated anorexia can lead to starvation and serious health problems, such as bone thinning (osteoporosis), kidney damage, and heart problems. Some people die from these problems. If you or someone you know has anorexia, get help right away. The longer this problem goes on, the harder it is to overcome. With treatment, a person with anorexia can feel better and stay at a healthy weight. What causes anorexia? Eating disorders are complex, and experts don't really know what causes them. But they may be due to a mix of family history, social factors, and personality traits. You may be more likely to have anorexia if: Other people in your family have an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa. You have a job or do a sport that stresses body size, such as ballet, modeling, or gymnastics. You are the type of person who tries to be perfect all the time, never feels good enough, or worries a lot. You are dealing with stressful life events, such as divorce, moving to a new town or school, or losing a loved one. What are the symptoms? People who have anorexia often strongly deny that they have a problem. They don't see or believe that they do. It's usually up to their loved ones to get help for them. If you

are worried about someone, you can look for certain signs. People who have anorexia: Weigh much less than is healthy or normal. Are very afraid of gaining weight. Refuse to stay at a normal weight. Think they are overweight even when they are very thin. Obsess about food, weight, and dieting. Strictly limit how much they eat. Exercise a lot, even when they are sick. Vomit or use laxatives or water pills Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapsesconnect and organize How this occurs is not well understood. It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum (ASDs), the other two being Asperger syndrome, which lacks delays in cognitive development and language, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified ( Obsessive-compulsive disorder Mental disorder in which an individual experiences obsessions or compulsions, either singly or together. An obsession is a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an unreasonable idea or feeling (such as of being contaminated through shaking hands with someone). A compulsion is an irresistible impulse to perform an irrational act (such as repeatedly washing the hands). The two phenomena are usually, but not always, linked in the obsessive-compulsive person. Onset of the illness has been linked to malregulation of the neurotransmitter serotonin as well as to the ill effects of high stress. hyperactivity disorder Behavioral syndrome in children, whose major symptoms are inattention and distractibility, restlessness, inability to sit still,

and difficulty concentrating on one thing for any period of time. It occurs in about 5% of all schoolchildren, and it is three times more common in boys than in girls. It can adversely affect learning, though many children with ADD can learn to control their behaviour sufficiently to perform satisfactorily in school. It appears to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Certain aspects of the syndrome may persist into adulthood. Treatment usually entails counseling and close parental supervision, and it may also include prescription medication. Oppositional Defiant Disorder In children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), there is an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that seriously interferes with the youngsters day to day functioning. Symptoms of ODD may include: Frequent temper tantrums Excessive arguing with adults Often questioning rules Active defiance and refusal to comply with adult requests and rules Deliberate attempts to annoy or upset people Blaming others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior Often being touchy or easily annoyed by others Frequent anger and resentment Mean and hateful talking when upset Spiteful attitude and revenge seeking

that they have or are about to have a serious illness. Often, hypochondria persists even after a physician has evaluated a person and reassured them that their concerns about symptoms do not have an underlying medical basis or, if there is a medical illness, their concerns are far in excess of what is appropriate for the level of disease. Many hypochondriacs focus on a particular symptom as the catalyst of their worrying, such as gastro-intestinal problems, palpitations, or muscle fatigue. The duration of these symptoms and preoccupation is 6 months or longer. Adjustment disorder Is an abnormal and excessive reaction to a life stress, such as starting school, getting divorced or experiencing grief. Symptoms For a diagnosis of adjustment disorder, a person's symptoms must be severe enough to affect his or her work or social life. Some of the symptoms include: Agitation Conduct disturbances Depression Palpitations Physical complaints Trembling or twitching Symptoms of adjustment disorder typically begin within 3 months of the stressor, and usually do not last longer than 6 months. Narcissistic personality Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance and a deep need for admiration. Those with narcissistic personality disorder believe that they're superior to others and have little regard for other people's feelings. But behind this mask

Hypochondriasis or hypochondria (Sometimes referred to as health phobia or health anxiety) refers to excessive preoccupation or worry about having a serious illness. An individual suffering from hypochondriasis is known as a hypochondriac. Hypochondriacs become unduly alarmed about any physical symptoms they detect, no matter how minor the symptom may be. They are convinced

of ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem, vulnerable to the slightest criticism. Narcissistic personality disorder is one of several types of personality disorders. Personality disorders are conditions in which people have traits that cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways, limiting their ability to function in relationships and in other areas of their life, such as work or school. Narcissistic personality disorder treatment is centered on psychotherapy. Antisocial personality disorder

personality disorder, you may be seen as a loner, and you may feel as though you have no idea how to form personal relationships. To others, you may appear dull or humorless. Because you don't tend to show emotion, you may appear as though you don't care about what's going on around you. However, although you may seem aloof, you may actually feel extremely sensitive and lonely. The cause of schizoid personality disorder is unknown. Therapy and medications can help. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a

Is a type of chronic mental illness in which a person's ways of thinking, perceiving situations and relating to others are abnormal and destructive. People with antisocial personality disorder typically have no regard for right and wrong. They may often violate the law and the rights of others, landing in frequent trouble or conflict. They may lie, behave violently, and have drug and alcohol problems. And people with antisocial personality disorder may not be able to fulfill responsibilities to family, work or school. Antisocial personality disorder is sometimes known as sociopathic personality disorder. A sociopath is a particularly severe form of antisocial personality disorder. Schizoid personality disorder is a condition in which affected people avoid social activities and consistently shy away from interaction with others. If you have schizoid

mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Many people who go through traumatic events have difficulty adjusting and coping for a while. But with time and taking care of yourself, such traumatic reactions usually get better. In some cases, though, the symptoms can get worse or last for months or even years. Sometimes they may completely shake up your life. In a case such as this, you may have post-traumatic stress disorder. Getting treatment as soon as possible after post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms develop may prevent long-term posttraumatic stress disorder.