Mental Health Matters

Anxiety disorders encompass a wide variety of mental health conditions, but all of them have more than an occasional state of worry. Sometimes, the anxiety doesn’t go away, felt in many situations (often excessively or irrationally), and lasts for a long period of time. The most common one is generalized anxiety disorder, which encompasses the following symptoms: excessively worrying about everyday things, having trouble controlling these worries, irritability or restlessness. Physical symptoms are also common: fatigue, pain (headaches, stomachaches), trembling, lightheaded/out of breath, and sweating. I feel social anxiety disorder is also important to highlight, which is in the particular situation of having to perform/be around others. Symptoms include, but are not limited to the following: blushing/sweating/trembling, rapid heart rate, mind blanking, self-consciousness, identifying self-perceived flaws, and expecting the worst.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It is important to note that diagnosis requires an identification of an ongoing pattern of symptoms, most frequently inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity. For inattention: making careless mistakes, difficulty sustaining attention, easily distracted, forgetful, difficulty organizing. For hyperactivity + impulsivity: excessive movement/restlessness/fidgeting, talking excessively, difficulty staying still or waiting their turn when appropriate, interrupting others frequently, acting without thinking, and making rash or risky decisions.

OCD is a condition characterized by intrusive thoughts, often called obsessions, and repetitive behaviors, often called compulsions; both appear frequently and interfere with daily life. Some examples are a fear of contamination (obsessive thoughts that seem to never go away — ‘I am not clean’) combined with a compulsion (action meant to subside these worries, not usually logical — washing hands until hands bleed).

Schizophrenia is a chronic condition that significantly impairs daily function. It can be split into positive (adding something), negative (taking something away), and cognitive symptoms. Positive symptoms are things like hallucinations or delusions, while negative symptoms include reduced motivation or expression of emotions. Cognitive symptoms are indicators of cognitive impairment, which reflects disruptions in brain development or environmental stressors. It is important to note that this disorder is typically diagnosed during the 20s-30s, but subtle changes can precede the diagnosis.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings, often from manic to depressive episodes. They experiences prolonged episodes of “highs” or “ups” in which their behavior is elated, energized, or impulsive. This is followed with a crash and eventual depressive episode, where they feel sad, hopeless, or indifferent. It is important to note that these episodes must cycle between each other and be more intense than the general populations feelings of sadness or anger.

PTSD develops after experiencing or witnessing an extremely traumatic event, such as war, loss, violence, or natural disasters. Those who develop PTSD experience symptoms from a traumatic event long after it is deemed ‘natural’. It interferes with aspects of daily life. They can have episodes of flashbacks (reliving the event) / recurring memories or dreams / distressing thoughts or physical signs of stress. Additionally, they may feel some sense of avoidance by avoiding thoughts, feelings, places, or objects that are reminders or closely related to the event. They may have reactivity symptoms like being easily startled/feeling tense or on edge, difficulty concentrating or sleeping, and feelings of irritability or engaging in destructive behavior. Lastly, they may have symptoms which interfere with cognition or mood such as remembering key features, negative thoughts (about self or world), exaggerated feelings of blame/fear/anger/guilt/shame, loss of interest in activities, feelings of social isolation, and difficulty feeling positive emotions. It is important to note that a variety of events can result in PTSD, so if these symptoms feel familiar, reach out.