Physical mental illness adolescents Essay

Adolescence is a period during which many learning tasks must be accomplished. Even adolescents whose development is normal may have problems. Some adolescents, however, have major problems in achieving a satisfactory adjustment to the demands of home, school, and community. They may engage in unacceptable behavior; or their physical, social, emotional, and mental development may be slower than that of other adolescents. This research paper presents some representative illnesses of adolescence; the illnesses covered include problems of physical and mental illnesses. The physical illnesses Theoretical Framework Adolescence is unknown in many nonindustrialized countries. Instead, adulthood begins with the onset of puberty and is commonly celebrated with traditional rites of passage. With the advent of universal free education and child labor laws in Western countries, children, who otherwise would have entered the adult work world by the time they reached puberty, entered a period of life during which they developed an adult body yet maintained a childlike dependence on parents. Formal study of this transitional period between childhood and adulthood, known as adolescence, began with the work of G. Stanley Hall at the beginning of this century (Proefrock, 1999). But adolescence became a major field of study only in the past few decades. In fact, the Annual Review of Psychology did not include a review of research on adolescence until 1988- its 39th volume (Petersen, 1998). Adolescence has been celebrated in myth and fiction as a time of joy, with few pressures and demands. Is adolescence a carefree and happy stage? While many adolescent probably remember good times, they also remember times of unhappiness and stress, too. Moreover, most adolescents recall fears and doubts and periods of insecurity, along with unpleasant feelings about the kind of person they were. If so, they’re recollections are not unusual. Contrary to the romanticized version of adolescence as a carefree time, many illnesses may arise in this period. A truly carefree adolescence is rare, if not impossible. In spite of the illnesses that adolescents face, and the troubled behaviors that they may manifest, most adolescents do not become identified as â€Å"problem children. † This research paper will examine some illnesses in adolescent stage considered to be manifestations of disordered functioning. Causal factors will be presented for each illness, and treatments will also be discussed. Empirical Evidence In considering the problem of illnesses in adolescents, an important variable must be remembered: Adolescence is a very short period. Ideally, they develop from â€Å"primitive organism† to mature, stable adults. During the course of development, some behaviors may frequently be bothersome to others, or may cause psychological pain for the adolescent. Fortunately, these behaviors often disappear with time; the child â€Å"grows out† of them. Many theorists view life as a series of developmental periods through which children progress. During this progression, many tasks must be completed if the child is to become a reasonably well-functioning human being. How well each of us resolves these development tasks depends on many factors, including our genetic endowment, physical environment, and psychological support we receive from those raising us. Rather than review the development stages presented by one theorist, we will look more generally at what faces the child. Defining Illnesses Many criteria have been suggested for distinguishing whether the behavior of a child is to be considered an illness. A child’s behavior may not meet all these criteria, or even most of them, and still be of concern to a parent. For example, a teenager who is fearful about school might not be diagnosed as suffering from disorder, but the child would benefit from parental understanding and assistance in resolving this fear. The application of a formal diagnosis to many adolescent illnesses may result in negative labeling effects for many diagnosed adolescent, who are likely to carry the stigma of diagnosis throughout their school career. The more severe labels, may correctly or incorrectly influence teachers` perceptions of the asserts and deficits of adolescents. If an adolescent is expected to be a problem student because of a diagnostic label the teacher may well behave in a way that elicits problem behavior from the adolescent. The label may lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Mental Illness The term mentally ill is frightening to many people. Movies, books, and magazines often depict mental illness in frightening ways. In some cases, adolescents suffering from a mental illness do act unpredictably or even dangerously. With proper diagnosis and treatment, most of the symptoms of mental illnesses can be controlled. It is tempting to distinguish healthy adolescents from adolescents with mental illness problems. However, there is often a fine line between mental health and mental illness. It is important to understand that mental illnesses vary in their severity. For example, many adolescents suffered from various levels of anxiety or depression. Others have suffered from serious mental disorders with biological origins. Education about the adolescents` mental illness is vital for those with mental health problems as well as for the adolescents` friends and family. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders. Approximately 5 million adolescents suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorders. An obsessive-compulsive disorder is an illness in which people have obsessive thoughts or perform habitual behaviors that they cannot control. People with obsessions often have recurring ideas or thoughts that they cannot control. People with compulsions feel forced to engage in a receptive behavior, almost as if the behavior controls them. Continual handwashing, counting to a certain number while using the toilet, and checking and rechecking all the light switches in the house before leaving or going to bed are examples of compulsive behaviors. Some compulsive behaviors that are more harmful include pulling out one’s hair and other forms of self-mutilation. The causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder are difficult to isolate. Some theorists believe that sufferers engage in compulsive behaviors to distract themselves from more pressing problems. Until recently, behavioral therapy, which focuses on controlling and changing behaviors, has been the common treatment for sufferers of obsessive-compulsive disorders. However, research now indicates that some of these disorders may be caused by a lack of the neurotransmitters serotonin in the limbic system. In the early 1990, a drug called clomipramine (Anafiranil) was released for prescription use. Researchers believe that chlomipramine alters the way serotonin is used in the brain. When used in conjunction with behavioral therapy, this drug has been found to be helpful in alleviating symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Conclusion/Summary explaining the connection between my subject and current ideas and applications within the field of psychology and throughout the research the references should be noted and organized, third person writing perspective and avoid biased or pejorative language. 12 font, Courier style font and double spaced. Thank you. Physical and mental Illness in Adolescents. I want the paper to have both positive and opposing veiws from authors along with a knowledgable solution or idea.