A high school student allows herself to eat less than six hundred calories a day. Months go by as her body withers. Her friends and family are aghast at her emaciated appearance. Nevertheless, she still agonizes over being "too fat." A college student regularly downs six or seven thousand calories in a single hour. Then she makes herself throw up before her body can digest the massive amount of food. Eating disorders like these affect five million people each year in America alone, and man...

Mental disorders can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. But specific mental disorders may be more likely to affect certain groups of people than other groups. For example, some mental disorders, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are more common in children and adolescents than in adults. Dealing with the issues that surround mental disorders can be difficult for anyone. However, young people who must balance a mental disorder with other stresses, like schoolwork, extra...

At twenty-seven, Sheila is already on the verge of a second divorce. She has a degree in early elementary education, but still can't decide on a career. Suffering from a continual feeling of emptiness and unsure of who she is, Sheila is terrified of losing her husband, yet seems to do everything she can to drive him away. With almost no friends and a strong compulsion to cut herself, Sheila's future looks bleak. Trent knows that everyone is out to get him. One by one, he spoils every chanc...

Find out what it takes to be a social worker with character... Social workers help children and adults identify their problems, decide on effective solutions, and find reliable resources. They do this in a variety of settings, including: •Community centers; •Settlement houses; •Schools; •Hospitals; •Prisons; and •Nursing homes. In order to enter the field of social work, a bachelor's degree is required, and many jobs require a master's as well. Academic knowledge alone is not enough, thoug...

When terrorists attacked the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Cassie McCauley watched in horror from her classroom on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. Her heart pounded faster and faster as she saw billowing clouds of dark gray smoke pour from the landmark buildings. When the first tower collapsed, she began feeling light-headed. By the time the second tower fell in on itself, Cassie was so nauseated and dizzy she had to sit down. Along with millions of people across North...

Find out what it takes to be a research scientist with character... Research scientists work to develop new products and techniques that improve human lives. These scientists can be: •Biochemists; •Botanists; •Marine biologists; •Microbiologists; •Physiologists; or •Zoologists. Whatever their field, researchers investigate ways to heal diseases, create new inventions, and explore the world around us. Professionals in this field need strong backgrounds in science and math—and equally strong...

Learning disabilities are extremely common. Teachers and parents often make the mistake of thinking children with these disabilities aren't trying hard enough or simply aren't as intelligent as other students—but in reality, young people with learning disabilities simply need special attention and a different approach to learning. Read about Charlie Begay, who thought he liked school, at least until he got to first grade. Now, no matter how hard he tries, he just can't make the words on th...

Find out what it takes to be a psychologist with character... Psychologists can specialize in a variety of areas, including: •Experimental psychology; •Physiological psychology; •Development psychology; •Social psychology; •Clinical psychology; •School psychology; •Industrial psychology; and •Counseling psychology. Although professionals in this field need strong educational backgrounds, they also need: The diligence to follow through on long-term treatments or research... Respect and comp...

A century ago, people with symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were sometimes institutionalized for life or treated with frightening operations such as frontal lobotomies. In the twentieth century, psychoanalysis and other types of therapies began to offer more treatment options. In this book, you will read about: •Lauren, a high school student whose OCD robbed her of friends, her social life, job, and future, leaving her too ashamed to reach out for help. •Jacob, an eight-year...

Schizophrenia, the most severe of the mental disorders, usually begins in late adolescence or young adulthood. A patient's first symptoms may be hallucinations, such as hearing voices that sound as real as those of friends and family. Or they may be delusions, such as believing that aliens are sending information to him via the radio or through television programs. While the mysterious disease can have devastating effects on the one percent of the population who experience it, new antipsyc...

ADHD is a common condition in which kids are too energetic and have problems concentrating on one task. All too often, students with ADHD are simply thought to be "problem students," students who aren't trying hard enough or have discipline problems. Today, though, more and more people are becoming aware that ADHD is a serious medical condition, and there are medications and therapies that can help those who have it. As you read Connor's story in this book, you'll find out what it's like t...

Janet's brain felt foggy and numb. She imagined herself kneeling on a great frozen lake, and she pressed her face against the ice, trying to see through the cloudy surface to the open water below. In fact, she didn't feel any physical sensation at all, just an internal panic. Janet didn't understand these feelings. She just knew that in her frightening daydreams, she was lost above the ice and the knowledge that could save her was trapped in the dark water below. Soon, Janet was forgetting...