Maria is laying out a feast for the dead. There is a festive air surrounding all the goodies she lays on the blanket.

Martin is being put in restraints. He continues to moan and chatter about his dead mother coming to visit him.

One attempt to communicate with the Dead is celebrated annually, the other will likely lead to hospitalization

Jerry is a 14 year old boy who is receiving a medal of valor for shooting a man who was holding up a store.

John is going to jail for shooting a rival gang member.

There is a time and place for violence in some societies. For some of us there are situations when killing is honored, while in other circumstances it is punished.

One of the ways to define emotional disturbance includes determining if a person is a danger to self and others.

Ben has worked for several weeks, following the dictates of his culture and religion and has now entered an altered state that has great religious significance. He is at the threshold of the rites that will help him be ready to take on the challenges and significance of manhood.

Burton is entering treatment for substance abuse. He was caught using an illegal, mind altering drug.

Altered states may be honored in one situation, punished in another.

Miss Marten has a talk with her class and points out how much she honors Jason, who spoke up about injustice in the school.

Mr. Morris sends Jason to detention for disrespecting him by questioning his test.

How a message is received has a great deal to do with decisions about behavior. The power of the speaker and the power position of the recipient may alter how a message is received. That may also include gender, and there may be a difference in how someone responds if the speaker is from a perceived minority.

Luz is raped and begins to be fearful about strangers or walking alone at night.

Lacy gets panicky in situations with no warning. The sense of dread is building, and now, six months later, she is never certain what will trigger intense feelings of dread and anxiety.

Tragic events can create emotional distress. Emotional disturbances may not have an obvious triggering event.

Tracy's father dies and she has no interest in school or interaction with friends.

Tim begins to experience a feeling of dread that he cannot shake. He finds a sense of ominous foreboding is building, and now, six months later, he is not sleeping, has suicidal thoughts and feels hopeless.

Tragic events can create a depressed mood. Clinical depression, with no obvious crisis point may slip into a student's life and create a sense of lethargy and hopelessness.

Lonnie likes to costume himself and often chooses clothes that make him look pretty sexy and feminine. He and his friends get a real kick out of the process and laugh about the good times, the fun and stimulation of playing the part of a woman.

Larry hates being male. He desperately wants to save up the money to have a sex change operation. He often dresses as a girl and the kids have seen him and made him the joke in conversations in the school.

Both students are engaging in cross dressing, but only one is having emotional problems that are related to gender.

Definition Of Emotionally Disturbed - #1

The term means a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a student's educational performance.

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

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

Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.

A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.

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

Schizophrenia is also included as part of the definition.

Definition Of Emotionally Disturbed - #2

A. The term emotional or behavioral disorder means a a disability that is . . .

(i) characterized by behavioral or emotional responses in school programs so different from appropriate age, cultural or ethnic norms that the responses adversely affect educational performance, including academic, social, vocational or personal skills;

(ii) more than a temporary, expected response to stressful events in the environment;

(iii) consistently exhibited in two different settings, at least one of which is school-related; and

(iv) unresponsive to direct intervention applied in general education, or the condition of a child such that general education interventions would be insufficient

B The term includes such a disability that coexists with other disabilities.

C. The term includes a schizophrenic disorder, affective disorder, anxiety disorder or other sustained disorder of conduct or adjustment, affecting a child if the disorder affects educational performance ....from Individuals with Disabilities Education Law Report, 1993,p.1)

2. Passing notes

3. Chewing gum

4. Walking around the classroom

5. Being off task

6. Not doing homework

7. Pranks on neighbors

8. Taking things that belonged to the classroom

1. Shootings

2. Drug abuse

3.Vandalism and stealing

4. Attacking school personnel

5. Indecent gestures and language

6. Stealing and illegal activities

7. Dishonesty

8. Assault and abuse of fellow students

Exhibits painful shyness or withdrawal

Teased or victimized by peers

Seems to worry excessively

Panics in many situations and seems to have unfounded fears and phobias

Appears to have low esteem

Solves problems by disengaging

Tends to be suicidal or have thoughts of death and retreating from life

May be anorexic or bulimic

Causes or threatens physical harm to people and animals

Uses lewd or obscene gestures frequently

Ignores directions and reprimands

Is verbally hostile, including argumentative

Has tantrums, fits, rages

Damages property and belongings or others

Violates rights of others and societal norms

Recognize and value the student as they are without pressing them to be more, different

Accept student feelings and honor them rather than discounting fear or discomfort

Minimize power struggles - especially since the student is not likely to share needs if this occurs -- "brick wall time"

Keep the classroom safe and supportive for all students; minimizing lecturing as a form of behavior management, punishments, fuming

Stay away from manipulating the student or using them as an example to others

Minimize pressure for perfection

When appropriate, reduce work load for students who are "drawing" their work

Honor individuality and respect a student's request not to speak in front of the class, to go the the bathroom, to work alone

Provide places for the student to express feelings and needs - diary, making up objectives for next class, self pacing, self evaluating

Firmly describe expectations

Anticipate problems and watch for triggers

Model lack of anger and self control

Minimize change and maximize ritual

Explain consequences and resist temptation to use them retroactively - "You did this, now I'm going to do this"

Provide advance notice of change - even expected change -- In five minutes the bell will ring for recess

Provide high intensity outlets for students that are solitary pursuits, increase endorphins, decrease adrenalin

Expect student to work on self control, to self monitor and sense emotional fluctuations, then to adjust to them

Maximize opportunities for students to gain second person perspective

Set up interactions that are likely to be successful and monitor them the whole time

Provide choices and defer control. "The clock shows the bell is about to ring. Would you like help cleaning up or do you want to do it yourself?"

Intensive behavioral interventions - articles,techniques and links

Dr. Koop's site on Mental Illness

Child and Family studies regarding serious emotional issues

Multicultural supports and training in mental health

Glossary of mental health

Web links on Emotional Disturbance

Tourettes Syndrome

APA American Psychological Association

General information from NICHCY

Transition from adolescence to adulthood when EBD

Bullies and violence a book about stopping bullies