Glossary Letter: - A | Therapy Insider

A B C D E F G H I J K L M

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A-bomb: A cigarette that is made by combining marijuana and heroin.

Abulia: A mental disorder that primarily results in an extreme lack of motivation. Often symptoms will appear similar to those experienced by sufferers of depression.

Academic Support: The portion of a treatment program that focuses on helping children and teens improve their academic performance. This is often important to the overall success of therapy.

Accrued Deficits: The process by which an initial problem in a person's development causes further delays in that development over time.

Acculturation Difficulty: This occurs when a person has difficulty accepting or living up to cultural standards in their community. This often causes a great deal of stress and anxiety.

Acid: A hallucinogenic drug that is often used by youths at large events. This substance can be incredibly dangerous due to the impact it has on a person's decision making abilities.

Acting Out

|Ë?akti ng | |out|
act.ing/ out
n.noun

Acting out is the actions of a child who displays out of control, and self-destructive behaviors. Adolescents who consistently exhibit out of control behaviors are commonly referred to as, troubled teens. With proper psychiatric treatment, a troubled teen who displays self-sabotaging behavioral patters, can overcome their troubled mindset and successfully meet their potential.

Parents of a child who regularly acts out, may feel as though they have tried everything in terms of correcting their child's inappropriate behaviors. Parents will often turn to self-help books, parenting experts and even participate in parent workshops. Nonetheless, some parents continue to struggle and feel at a loss in parenting an out of control child. For parents such as these, there are behavioral modification services that cater to their child's psychiatric needs.

There are nearly countless troubled teen services that assist helpless parents who feel as though they are helpless in correcting their child's behavior. Additionally, treatment options such as, therapeutic boarding schools, residential treatment facilities, group homes and wilderness therapy programs for troubled teens are the most popular choices for struggling parents.

Acute Stress Disorder: A disorder that leaves someone susceptible to severe bouts of stress that can leave them virtually incapacitated. These stress attacks can be very similar to a panic attack.

Adderall: This is a medication that is often prescribed for ADD or ADHD. It is also frequently abused by individuals for both recreational purposes and to aid in focusing on school work or other projects.

Addiction

ad·dic·tion
/a-dik-SHun/
n.noun

synonyms: dependency, dependence, habit, problem

Addiction is a medical condition of the brain that is characterized by a compulsive or persistent relationship with rewarding stimuli, despite negative or adverse consequences. It is often referred to as a disease or biological process that creates unhealthy attachments to a substance or activity, resulting in abusive and/or debilitating behaviors.

Addiction is a dangerous behavior that can affect a person in a numerous amount of ways. Addicts may be addicted to a harmful substance, such as methamphetamine, cocaine or alcohol. Additionally, a person may suffer from non-substance addictions such as self-harm, eating disorder or gambling habit. Although very different from one another, substance and non-substance addictions are both dangerous and potentially life threatening. Moreover, a person who suffers from an addiction requires specialized treatment in order to achieve adequate rehabilitation.

There are many different types of facilities, treatments, and therapeutic methods used in treating an addicted individual. One-on-one therapies, group sessions, and 24-hour treatment care are the most efficient options in terms of treating an addicted person. The specific treatment that best suits an individual, exclusively depends on their particular addictions and the severity of their habits.

RESOURCES FOR ADDICTION HELP

Addiction Treatment Programs: Programs designed to help individuals who have been struggling with substance abuse overcome the difficulties of withdrawal while building the skills necessary to avoid relapse.

ADHD

at·ten·tion def·i·cit dis·or·der
n. noun

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic, yet very common condition that affects millions of children in the United States. ADHD is a mixture of several different problems that may include, difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior.

Often, young men and women who struggle with ADHD also have a low self-esteem, trouble maintaining relationships and may display poor performances in school and on the job. While symptoms do sometimes subside with age, some individuals never outgrow their ADHD symptoms. With adequate treatment, however, young men and women can learn how to control their ADHD and use their ailment to their advantage.

While there is no cure for ADHD, treatment can significantly help deal with symptoms. Treatment varies, but usually includes medication and therapy. The earlier the diagnosis of ADHD, the better treatment can lessen the symptoms of ADHD. Therefore, it is critical for young men and women to seek the necessary treatment options for their ADHD.

Adjustment Disorder: The inability to adapt to new circumstances in a healthy way. This problem can particularly effect teens and children who move to new areas.

Adolescent Behavior Assessment: The process of a clinician reviewing the ways a child or teen is acting out and seeking to provide an accurate diagnosis. Following the diagnosis, the clinician will attempt to identify the appropriate therapeutic option.

Adolescent Development: The process of maturing and developing that occurs between childhood and young adulthood. During this time period, an individual will go through a number of significant mental, physical, and hormonal changes.

Adolescent Therapy: Treatment and support designed to intervene in the lives of adolescents who are struggling. Some of the issues this therapy can address include substance abuse, anger, and poor academic performance.

Adoption: The act of a person or couple acting as parents to a child that is not biologically theirs. This will often stress the parent-child relationship.

Adult Antisocial Behavior: When a person behaves in a way that is either deemed socially unacceptable or is actually aggressive towards society in general. This will often result in extreme difficulty forming social relationships and even legal consequences some cases.

Adventure Therapy: A form of therapy that relies on using new and exciting experiences to help individuals come to terms with the problems they have been struggling with. Often, a person going through this type of treatment will engage in a simulated risk situation while accompanied by a counselor.

Affective Disorders: Affective disorders are conditions that impact a persons mood. A person afflicted by these conditions will often be unable to regulate their emotions in a healthy way.

Aftercare Programs: Treatments meant to keep a person sober after they have left an addiction treatment center.

Aggression: Behaving in a manner that is either physically or verbally confrontational. Teens will often deal with the problem of heightened aggression.

Agoraphobia: A chronic and debilitating fear of the being in certain environments. One of the most common manifestations of this condition is a fear of being outdoors.

Air Blast: A slang term that refers to inhalants.

Alcohol: A liquid substance that has intoxicating properties and is one of the most popular drugs in the world. It can be very addictive and is harmful to physical and mental health when consumed in large quantities.

Alcohol Addiction: Having a physical or mental dependence on alcohol. Those suffering from alcohol addiction will have a compulsive urge to engage in the abuse of this substance.

Alcoholic: A person who has a compulsive need to drink alcohol due to either physical or mental dependence.

Algophobia: A mental condition that is primarily defined as a fear of pain. In some situations this fear can become debilitating.

Alienation: The process of becoming increasingly distant from family and peers. This often occurs due to illness or difficulties that cause a separation between the individual and his or her peers.

Amentia: A mental condition that causes retardation due to a lack of development in the brain.

Amped: A slang term for being high on amphetamines

Anankastic Personality: An alternate term for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Those afflicted will have difficulty regulating their thoughts and will often be compelled to engage in ritualistic behaviors to alleviate stress.

Angel Dust: The street term for the drug PCP.

Anger Management

ang.er man.age.ment

|Ë?a ng gÉ?r| |Ë?manijmÉ?nt|
n.noun

An. It is through this action that the angered person is then able to cope with anger in a positive and productive manner. Anger is a normal, healthy emotion when you know how to express it appropriately.

There are many different types of anger management treatment that varies in severity as well as approach to treating those who struggle with controlling their anger. An individual battling anger issues can find anger management treatment from a psychological professional for weekly sessions, as well as treatment centers for those who require extensive anger management recovery.

Anger management isn't an activity that suppresses or prevents anger, but instead, is a healthy, alternative approach to dealing with that anger. Anger issues, if, not managed appropriately, could, in fact, result in dire, life-altering consequences

Anhedonia: This condition is closely associated with depression and generally manifests as an inability to enjoy anything or feel happiness. Those afflicted with this problem will often feel as if they have no reason to live and sink deeply into depression.

Anomie: When a person becomes alienated from his community and peers due to different values and beliefs. The symptoms of this condition often resemble those exhibited by someone with antisocial personality disorder.

Anorexia: A serious eating disorder that often impacts teens. Those afflicted with this condition will continually believe that they are overweight and starve themselves. This often quickly leads to serious health problems and even death in serious cases.

Antidepressant: A drug that is prescribed to help alleviate the symptoms of depression. There are a number of different types of these drugs but the most common is SSRI's. These work by increasing the amount of serotonin that is present in the brain.

Antisocial Personality Disorder: A developmental disorder that makes it difficult for individuals to make connections with others. A person afflicted by this disorder will generally have a number of serious problems with their social development.

Anxiety: Nervousness or fear that is chronic and debilitating. Anxiety disorders can cause a variety of different physical and mental issues in those who suffer from this condition.

Apathy: A general lack of care and concern for the anyone or anything. This is often a symptom of depression or some other mental illness.

Asperger syndrome: Asperger syndrome (also known as Aspergers) is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and is a developmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.

Assertive Community Treatment: A treatment model that emphasizes the importance of incorporating multiple resources from around the community in a planned and concerted effort.

At Risk Teens: Teens who are likely to develop problems or engage in dangerous behaviors. Some of the warning signs for teens include their grades, the friends they spend time with, and the involvement of their parents.

Authoritarian Parenting: A parenting style that relies on strict adherence to a set of rules and standards. This often includes serious punishments for any violation of these rules.

Autism: A mental disorder that is characterized by disinterest in socialization and difficulty developing independence. The reasons behind this disorder are not fully understood and those dealing with it can experience vastly difference symptoms and levels of functionality.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Any disorder that falls within the basic definition of autism. Often includes lack of emotional attachment, poor communication skills, and poor social skills.

Avoidant Personality Disorder: A disorder that makes a person reluctant to engage in social situations. In some cases this may seem like a case of very severe shyness.