Health Problems of the Elderly | Older Adults' Health

Emotional Disorders

How Do We Define Mental or Emotional Disorders?

A Various mental/behavioral disorders have been defined in confusing and often conflicting ways.  The definition of a disorder can depend on such features as observable symptoms, e.g., crying, hallucinating; severity, e.g., crying/feeling blue for weeks or months vs. several days; and/or level of disability, e.g., going to work, school, and/or carrying out activities of daily living (bathing eating, dressing).  Usually mental health professionals rely on diagnostic criteria.

Fears &phobias

Nearly all children have fears at different stages of their development. Fear of monsters, the dark or strangers are certainly not uncommon. Normally, a child outgrows these fears. Sometimes, fears may persist and develop, interfering with a child's normal schedule. These fears may be simple phobias, fear of certain people, places or things, and may subside without any type of treatment. More often than not, children with childhood phobias do not receive treatment for their fears. It is important to consider,  that treatment may be required if the fear persists or accelerates. Treatment for phobias are through behavior altherapy in which they are exposed to the feared object and must learn to overcome their anxieties and manage their fears.

• Use the relaxation training and breathing exercises in Stress Reduction to get yourself relaxed. It is important to be relaxed to stop a recurring thought.

• After you are trained to stop thoughts by using the ``Stop'' tape, you are ready to stop your thoughts by yelling "stop'' out loud. For 30 minutes think of your fear, feared object, or event and yell "stop'' to stop the thought. Once you stop the thought go back to thinking about the thoughts for awhile, then yell stop again. Do this over and over again for 30 minutes each night for two weeks or until you are able to stop the thought every time you yell "stop.''  

• Use thinking the word "stop'' to stop thoughts of your fear, feared object, or event from then on. It is a technique that will halt your dwelling on the fearful thought in the future.  

• On a tape recorder, record the word "stop'' on alternating 1, 2, and 3 minute intervals for a 30 minute tape. Call yourself into a relaxed state before using the ``Stop'' tape. Then, think of your fear, feared object, or event. Every time you hear "stop;'' stop the thought. Return to the thought again and only stop the thought when you hear "stop.'' Do this for 30 minutes every night for two weeks or until you are able to stop the thought every time you hear "stop.''

• After you have trained yourself to stop thoughts by whispering "stop,'' you are ready to train your thoughts to stop by thinking the word "stop.'' For 30 minutes repeat the process of dwelling on your fears, feared object, or event, but this time think "stop'' to stop your thoughts. Do this for 30 minutes nightly for two weeks or until you are able to consistently stop the thoughts by thinking the word "stop.''  

• It’s important, that you never let your problems take on a life of their own. Sure, a crises is going to disrupt your life for a while. A crisis causes you to think and react. It is going to force you to turn your attention to it. But you must realize that you have control over it. You can decide how you are going to let this crisis or personal problem affect your life. Hopefully, you’ll come out of it a better person, having learned something from your problems

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