Mental Illness Awareness Week: Eating Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (Odd), And Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd)

Today, we cover three different but impactful disorders: Eating Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Each comes with its own set of challenges and treatment options.

• Eating Disorders:
  • Obsession with Food and Body: Your child may become overly concerned with their body size, leading to extreme dieting or binge eating.
  • Physical Changes: Noticeable weight loss or gain, fatigue, and in girls, the absence of menstruation.
  • Behavioral Changes: Avoiding meals, visiting the bathroom immediately after eating, or exercising excessively.

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD):
  • Angry and Irritable Mood: Your child may lose their temper easily, becoming touchy and easily annoyed by others.
  • Defiant Behavior: Frequent arguments with adults, refusal to comply with rules, and deliberately annoying people.
  • Vindictiveness: May engage in spiteful or vindictive behavior at least twice within the past six months.

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
  • Reliving Events: Your child may experience flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts about the traumatic event.
  • Avoidance: Avoiding places, people, or activities that remind them of the traumatic event.
  • Hyperarousal: Excessive emotional reactions, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and being easily startled are common.

For each of these disorders, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider for a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to the specific disorder. Treatment may include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes, such as improved diet and exercise for eating disorders, behavioral therapy for ODD, and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD.