When it comes to mental health, most of us have questions. The worrying thing is that we’re too afraid to ask them. Mental health has a stigma attached, and people simply aren’t comfortable talking about it in the same way as physiological problems. We hear the terms depression and anxiety on a daily basis. But what exactly are these conditions, and how can you spot the signs? Here are some of the most common mental health disorders explained.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal human emotion, but it’s also a mental health disorder. It’s normal to be anxious in certain scenarios. If you’re waiting for test results or you’re about to go into an interview, you’re bound to be nervous. If you have anxiety, you experience symptoms when you’re faced with scenarios that wouldn’t normally make you feel uneasy. People with anxiety tend to overthink, and they get very anxious about situations, which most of us would confront without a care in the world. If you find yourself feeling on edge on a regular basis, or day to day life is becoming more of a struggle, seek help from your doctor. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often beneficial for anxiety. This form of treatment helps you to tackle potentially stressful situations in a more constructive manner.
Depression
Depression is a word that is bandied around. Sadly, there’s an assumption that depression is something you can just shrug or shake off. In reality, people who experience depression often need long-term help and support. We all have days when we feel down, but depression is an illness that makes you feel like this for prolonged periods of time. It can make you not want to get out of bed in the morning and question your worth. Mild depression can often be improved with self-help techniques, like exercise. In more severe cases, medication may be recommended alongside talking therapies.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness, which makes it difficult for people to separate reality from ideas. This is a long-term condition, which requires very careful management. Schizophrenia causes a range of psychological symptoms including hallucinations and extreme behavior. People who suffer with this illness often appear very confused and disorientated. In most cases, treatment for schizophrenia involves a combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. If you’re interested in learning about schizophrenia, you’ll find more here.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of feeling high and low. People who have bipolar disorder are often unstable and unpredictable. It’s normal to have ups and downs, but this condition makes day to day life very difficult. The changes in mood are often sudden, and they can be very extreme. People tend to put their safety at risk, and this is why it’s so important that the condition is well-managed. Medication is often used to control symptoms, and psychological therapies can also be very useful.
To many of us, mental health is a mystery. When somebody has a physical illness, it’s often possible to see symptoms. With mental disorders, it can be much more difficult. Hopefully, this guide has given you an insight into mental health and enabled you to learn more about the most common psychological illnesses.
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