What are they?
By the term behavioral disorders we mean a whole series of disorders that affect the attitude of a particular subject.
Disorders such as:
- Difficulty managing actions and emotions;
- Inability to conform their emotions or behaviors in relation to the environment;
- Low ability to respect or take into consideration the decisions of others;
- Desire to excel over everything and everyone;
- Aggressive behaviour, nervousness, anger.
According to statistical data, behavioral disorders are more common in males than females and are associated with more evident symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
Causes
There are several causes behind the development of behavioral disorders:
- Familiarity, therefore the presence of further cases in the family;
- Hormonal dysfunctions such as low cortisol and high testosterone;
- Alteration in the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin;
- Malnutrition;
- Drug or alcohol abuse;
- Exposure to toxins;
- Social degradation.
Classification
We have several classifications of behavioral disorders:
- Paranoid disorder, where the subject sees the opinions or attitudes of others as a continuing threat;
- Schizoid disorder, where the patient is depressed, withdrawn, lonely, immersed in their thoughts;
- Schizotypal disorder, marked by a consistent pattern of intense discomfort with relationships;
- Antisocial disorder where the patient is in continuous internal conflict and ignores everything that characterizes their social context;
- Borderline Disorder, where the patient is continually uncomfortable with other people;
- Narcissistic disorder, where the patient has strong self-esteem, is constantly praised and always wants to be the center of attention;
- Avoidant disorder, where the patient always isolates himself from the entire social context;
- Dependent disorder, where the patient is unable to make decisions but relies on others to do so;
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder, where the patient always aims at the perfection of his actions, without ever being satisfied.
Symptoms
Behavioral disorders present a wide range of symptomatic manifestations:
- Extreme fluctuations in mood;
- Eating disorders, such as bulimia or anorexia;
- Personal devaluation;
- Chronic anger;
- Reckless driving;
- Abuse of alcohol or drugs;
- Suicidal behaviors;
- Self-harm;
- Feelings of emptiness and disorientation;
- Paranoid thoughts.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the presence of behavioral disorders is entrusted to expert figures such as psychologists or neuropsychiatrists. Following a visit, anamnesis and behavioral evaluation of the patient, the specialist can confirm the type of disorder manifested.
Treatment
The main cure for behavioral disorders is certainly psychotherapy, with specialized figures such as psychologists or psychiatrists.
The first stage consists in treating the patient with psychotherapy and associated interviews, but in chronic and severe cases, the specialist can associate a drug therapy.
The main medications for behavioral disorders are the following:
- Antipsychotics, which act on the rebalancing of neurotransmitter synthesis dysfunctions, in the case of schizophrenia or depressive and chronic disorders;
- Anxiolytics prescribed to alleviate anxiety or panic attacks;
- Antidepressants, prescribed as a cure to relieve chronic sadness and self-harm.
Lifestyle
Simple social interactions can improve or prevent the development of these disorders:
- Get support and understanding from friends or family;
- Request family therapy;
- Carry out social activities;
- Avoid spending too many hours indoors;
- Avoid video game addiction;
- Avoid PC or television overexposure;
- Reading and cultivate new interestes;
- Engage in physical activity;
- Painting;
- Listening to music.
Diet
Proper nutrition can help treat any form of behavioral disorder. Certainly a diet based on junk-food, rich in additives, simple sugars and chemical preservatives, is not ideal.
It is absolutely necessary to convert to a healthy, natural and organic lifestyle.
Surely all the B vitamins, essential for improving brain function and performance, cannot be missing. The most important is vitamin B12, which is prescribed to combat attention deficit disorder.
Magnesium is also important for the prevention and treatment of behavioral disorders, as scientific studies show that its deficiency causes irritability and nervousness.
Scientific studies show that omega-3 fatty acids, prescribed to patients suffering from behavioral disorders, improve their symptoms, as omega-3s have a neurotrophic effect, that is, they regenerate neurons.