Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental disorder, affecting more than 20% of adults in the United States. There are several different types of anxiety disorder, each with its own set of symptoms and associated behaviors. The most common types of anxiety disorder include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (SAD), and specific phobias.
People with GAD experience chronic and excessive worry about a variety of topics, including their personal health, work performance, or family life. They may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating due to their constant worrying. People with panic disorder experience recurrent episodes of intense fear that typically peak within 10 minutes. These attacks may include physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, or dizziness. SAD is characterized by intense fears about specific social situations such as public speaking or being around people outside the home. Individuals with SAD often avoid these situations altogether or endure them with great distress. Specific phobias involve an irrational fear of a particular object or situation, such as heights, flying, snakes, needles, closed spaces, or blood. Phobic individuals go to great lengths to avoid their feared object or situation.
Untreated anxiety disorders can lead to serious problems including drug abuse, alcohol abuse, job loss, relationship difficulties, absenteeism from work or school, and increased risk for suicide. However, effective treatments are available for all types of anxiety disorders. With proper diagnosis and treatment people with anxiety disorders can lead normal productive lives.
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders include conditions such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and dysthymic disorder. While each of these disorders has its own unique set of symptoms, all mood disorders share one common symptom: a change in mood that is not due to any external factors.
Major depressive disorder is the most common type of mood disorder. It is characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness or emptiness, loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed, insomnia or sleeping too much, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicide. People with major depression often have problems functioning in their everyday lives and may need medication and/or psychotherapy to treat their condition.
Bipolar disorder is another type of mood disorder. It is characterized by episodes of mania (a period of abnormally high energy levels and decreased need for sleep) alternating with episodes of depression (a period of low energy levels and increased need for sleep). Bipolar disorder can be very disruptive to a person’s life and may require medication and/or psychotherapy to treat the condition.
Dysthymic Disorder (also known as chronic depression) is characterized by a persistent low level of depressive symptoms that last for at least two years. People with dysthymic disorder may have difficulty functioning in their everyday lives but do not meet the criteria for major depression. Dysthymic Disorder often co-occurs with other mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders or substance abuse disorders. Treatment for dysthymic disorder typically includes medication and/or psychotherapy.
Psychotic Disorders
Hallucinations are sensory experiences that occur in the absence of an external stimulus. They can involve any of the five senses, but visual and auditory hallucinations are most common. People with psychotic disorders may see or hear things that other people can not see or hear.
Delusions are false beliefs that a person holds despite evidence to the contrary. People with psychotic disorders may have delusions of grandeur, believing they have special powers or abilities, or they may believe that others are trying to harm them.
Eating Disorders
There are three main types of eating disorder: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by severe weight loss and an intense fear of gaining weight. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by periods of binge-eating followed by purging (self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives). Binge-eating disorder is characterized by periods of uncontrolled overeating without purging.
Eating disorders can have serious physical and psychological consequences. They can lead to malnutrition, organ damage, and even death in severe cases. Eating disorders also often co-occur with other mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders and depression.
If you think you may have an eating disorder, it’s important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Early intervention can improve the chances of successful treatment and prevent the condition from becoming more severe.