PRE-PRODUCTION: 10th February: Research into mental health

I have looked up about the mental health disorders which we are portraying on the NHS websites.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anxiety/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Obsessive-compulsive-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Eating-disorders/Pages/Introduction.aspx


This will give us reliable and accurate information which will help us when producing our film, here is what I found:

Symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder 

Mental Symptoms:

• restlessness

• a sense of dread

• feeling constantly "on edge"

• difficulty concentrating

• irritability

• Avoid social contact

• find work difficult and stressful

• lack of self esteem

Physical symptoms:

• dizziness

• tiredness

• a noticeably strong, fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)

• muscle aches and tension

• trembling or shaking

• dry mouth

• excessive sweating

• shortness of breath

• stomach ache

• feeling sick

• headache

• pins and needles

• difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive activity.

Most people with OCD realise that compulsive behaviour is irrational and makes no logical sense, but they cannot stop acting on their compulsion.

• cleaning and hand washing

• checking – such as checking doors are locked, or that the gas or a tap is off

• counting

• ordering and arranging

• hoarding

• asking for reassurance

• repeating words silently

• extensively "overthinking" to ensure the feared consequence of the obsession does not occur – for example, if you fear you may act violently

• thinking "neutralising" thoughts to counter the obsessive thoughts

• avoiding places and situations that could trigger obsessive thoughts

• fear of deliberately harming yourself or others – for example, fear you may attack someone else, even though this type of behaviour disgusts you

• fear of harming yourself or others by mistake or accident – for example, fear you may set the house on fire by accidentally leaving the cooker on

• fear of contamination by disease, infection or an unpleasant substance

• a need for symmetry or orderliness – for example, you may feel the need to ensure all the labels on the tins in your cupboard face the same way

Eating Disorder

A person with an eating disorder may focus excessively on their weight and shape, leading them to make unhealthy choices about food with damaging results to their health.

• missing meals

• complaining of being fat, even though they have a normal weight or are underweight

• repeatedly weighing themselves and looking at themselves in the mirror

• making repeated claims that they've already eaten, or they'll shortly be going out to eat somewhere else and avoiding eating at home

• cooking big or complicated meals for other people, but eating little or none of the food themselves

• only eating certain low-calorie foods in your presence, such as lettuce or celery

• feeling uncomfortable or refusing to eat in public places, such as at a restaurant

• the use of "pro-anorexia" websites.