ADHD

ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a behavioural condition that makes focusing on everyday requests and routines challenging.

People with ADHD typically have trouble getting organized, staying focused, making realistic plans and thinking before acting. They may be fidgety, noisy and unable to adapt to changing situations.

Children with ADHD can be defiant, socially inept or aggressive.

Families considering treatment options should consult a qualified mental health professional for a complete review of their child's behavioural issues and a treatment plan.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology.

Anger

Anger is an emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you wrong.

Anger can be a good thing. It can give you a way to express negative feelings, for example, or motivate you to find solutions to problems.

But excessive anger can cause problems. Increased blood pressure and other physical changes associated with anger make it difficult to think straight and harm your physical and mental health.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology

Anxiety

Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure, accelerated heart rate.

People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry. They may also have physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness or a rapid heartbeat.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology

Autism

Autism is the most severe developmental disability. Appearing within the first three years of life, autism involves impairments in social interaction such as being aware of other peoples feelings and verbal and nonverbal communication.

Some people with autism have limited interests, strange eating or sleeping behaviours or a tendency to do things to hurt themselves, such as banging their heads or biting their hands.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology

Depression

Depression is more than just sadness. People with depression may experience a lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive sleeping, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

Depression is the most common mental disorder. Fortunately, depression is treatable. A combination of therapy and antidepressant medication can help ensure recovery.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology

Eating disorders

Eating disorders are abnormal eating habits that can threaten your health or even your life. They include:

Anorexia nervosa: Individuals believe they are fat even when they’re dangerously thin and restrict their eating to the point of starvation.

Bulimia nervosa: Individuals eat excessive amounts of food, then purge by making themselves vomit or using laxatives.

Binge eating: Individuals have out-of-control eating patterns, but don’t purge.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is an anxiety problem that develops in some people after extremely traumatic events, such as combat, crime, an accident or natural disaster.

People with PTSD may relive the event via intrusive memories, flashbacks and nightmares; avoid anything that reminds them of the trauma; and have anxious feelings they didn’t have before that are so intense their lives are disrupted.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology

Sleep

Sleep is essential for health and well-being. But millions of people don’t get enough, resulting in such problems as daytime sleepiness, poor decision-making, interference with learning and accidents. Cognitive-behavioural therapy, which helps people identify and change their thoughts and behaviours, can help.

Adapted from “Why sleep is important and what happens when you dont get enough

Workplace issues

Workplace issues are of great interest to psychologists, since most people spend a third of their adult lives at work. Work defines people in the most basic way, which is one reason retirement is so difficult for many people. For psychologists, other key issues include matching people and jobs, finding ways to reduce workplace stress and studying people's motivation and job satisfaction.

Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology.

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