EMOTIONAL

DISTURBANCE
 WHAT IS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Emotional disturbance is an inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal

relationships with peers or family. It is often described as a general pervasive mood of
unhappiness or depression. Individuals with emotional disorders exhibit inappropriate
behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.
The term “emotional disturbance” often includes schizophrenia.1 Emotional disturbance
disorder does not apply to socially maladjusted individuals, except the presence of an
emotional disorder has been determined. The emotional disturbance at deliberate self-harm
can be characterized by type and degree. This term is as well linked with behavioral
disorders.2
Emotional disturbance means a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and
to a marked degree that adversely affects a child’s educational performance:

(A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.

(B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.

© Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.

(D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.

€ A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.

The term “emotional disturbance” includes schizophrenia. It does not apply to students who are socially maladjusted, unless it
is determined that they have an emotional disturbance.
• Center for Parent Information and Resources lists 6 types of emotional disturbances: anxiety disorders, • bipolar disorder, •
conduct disorders, • eating disorders, • obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and • psychotic disorders. Behavior affects
educational performance.
 5 TIPS FOR HANDLING EBD KIDS (EMOTIONAL
BEHAVIOR DISORDER) IN AN INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM
Here are five effective strategies you can use to help EBD kids work well in an inclusive classroom.

1. Keep class rules/activities simple and clear

Your EBD students (as well as some of your more focused students) will most likely struggle if you impose a long
list of complicated rules and demands. Try to keep your classroom guidelines broad and simple—no more than 3 to 5
main rules. Let students know about them on the first day of class, and post them in the classroom as well. An
example list might be:
Be on time

Try your best

Be polite
Respect one another
Along with simple and clear rules, there should be simple and clear teaching activities. Using activities that don’t have
complicated directions allow students with EBD to follow along and interact with the rest of the class. Some activity
examples are:
2. Reward positive behaviors
While you will, at times, have to discipline children for improper behavior, remember that rewarding positive behavior
is ultimately far more effective in the long run. Many students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorder tend to take any
discipline as a personal attack, and because of this, they often learn very little from it.
3. Allow for mini-breaks
A lot of EBD kids lack the emotional balance and maturity needed to remain focused and on-task for long periods.
Instead of reprimanding these students for their lapses, build in short rest periods or mini-breaks into the school day.
4. Fair treatment for all

Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders also often don’t respond very well to situations that appear
unfair to them. This can trigger a cascade of negative emotions and acting-out behavior.

5. Use motivational strategies

Unfortunately, Emotional and Behavioral Disorder students tend to have had a lot of negative experiences in
school. Therefore they often lack the desire or motivation to try to succeed.
To avoid disruptive or off-task behaviors, take some extra steps to motivate these students. Offer them incentives
for academic successes, large and small.
Some of the characteristics and behaviors seen in children who have an emotional disturbance include:
Hyperactivity (short attention span, impulsiveness);
Aggression or self-injurious behavior (acting out, fighting);
Withdrawal (not interacting socially with others, excessive fear or anxiety);
Immaturity (inappropriate crying, temper tantrums, poor coping skills); and
Learning difficulties (academically performing below grade level).
Causes

No one knows the actual cause or causes of emotional disturbance, although several factors—heredity, brain
disorder, diet, stress, and family functioning—have been suggested and vigorously researched. A great deal of
research goes on every day, but to date, researchers have not found that any of these factors are the direct
cause of behavioral or emotional problems.
According to NAMI, mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income.
 COMMON TYPE OF EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE

Emotional disturbance is a commonly used umbrella term for several different mental disorders. Some of the most common
types include:
• Anxiety Disorders
• -Anxiety can be excessive, persistent, seemingly uncontrollable, and overwhelming. It is an irrational fear which involves
everyday situations. These pointers indicate that an individual may have an anxiety disorder, but this is not always the
case.
The term “anxiety disorder” covers several difficulties, sharing irrational fear as a core sign. These include panic disorder,
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social anxiety disorder (also called social phobia), and specific phobias.
• Bipolar Disorders

-These are severe medical conditions that cause dramatic mood swings, often with periods of normal moods. Extreme
changes in energy and behavior disorders go along with these mood changes. They range from depressive lows to manic
highs. The term is also known as manic-depressive illness. Psychosocial treatment over time can stabilize these mood swings.
• Eating Disorders
• -They are characterized by extremes in eating behavior disorders, varying from eating too much or too little.
In addition, feelings of extreme distress or concern about body weight or shape at times develop as signs of
this condition.
-Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa are the two most common eating disorders. The latter is characterized
by self-starvation, while the former is characterized by frequent binge eating cycles. Both conditions can be
potentially life-threatening.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- OCD is sometimes considered an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts and
compulsive, repetitive behaviors. Repetitive behaviors such as counting, cleaning, etc., are often performed.
These actions, however, provide only temporary relief, and non-performance increases anxiety. Obsessive-
Compulsive Disorder can be a result of chemical imbalance in the brain.
 WHAT CAUSES EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE?

• Family Environment
• Effective parenting and guidance are vital in the healthy development of children. Some, if
not most, of the actions of people involved in children’s formative years affect the resultant
emotional state of children. A productive environment consisting of:
• Significant, chronic stress in the home the authoritarian style of parenting Disinterested,
distant parents
More damaging than positive interactions in the home this can lead to a high probability of
an individual developing an emotional disorder.
• Diet
-Unhealthy eating patterns can cause mood swings. Sticking to this pattern allows for mood fluctuations,
inability to focus, and an overall unhappy outlook. There is a strong association between a poor diet and
emotional disorders. A shortage of essential nutrients may limit the proper functioning of the body.
• Miscellaneous and Environmental Factors
-Several other factors, such as brain disorders, hereditary stress, trauma, etc., can also lead to emotional
disturbances.7