Introduction
Mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression can be highly debilitating and affect a person's quality of life on a daily basis. But understanding the different types of mental disorders, as well as their causes (if known) can make an individual more aware of his or her own mental health.
That's why this article is here to provide you with a quick overview of the most common mental disorders out there — their symptoms, risk factors, and causes (if so known).
Mental disorders affect millions of people in the United States annually. There has been a lot of debate over how many of these mental disorders are actually real and several researchers dispute even the number of disorders that have ever been officially defined as such.
Depression Mental disorders
Depression is a common mental disorder, affecting about 7 percent of the U.S. population at any given time. It is a serious medical condition that affects the way people feel, think and act. Depression can happen to anyone at any time, but it usually develops during adulthood between the ages of 15 and 64.
Mental disorders are characterized by changes in thinking or behavior, such as mood swings and difficulties with attention, concentration, and memory. Mental disorders can be classified into three major groups: neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism); behavioral syndromes; and mood disorders (including depression).
Some mental disorders have no physical symptoms that can be seen by others, while others have physical symptoms that may be obvious to others.
Depression is a mental health condition that affects millions of people. It can be caused by many factors, including:
Stress.
Family history of depression.
A loss or change in a major life event, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or getting fired.
You may be feeling depressed if you have low self-esteem, experience sadness and loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, feel irritable and angry for no apparent reason, and have trouble sleeping or concentrating at work or school. A diagnosis of depression is made when symptoms are present for at least two weeks and cause clinically significant distress or impairment to your daily life.
Depression
Named for the Greek goddess of the underworld, depression is a serious and often debilitating mental illness that affects as many as 350 million people worldwide. It’s characterized by low moods, loss of interest in activities that were once pleasurable, and weight gain or loss. The physical symptoms of depression can include changes in eating habits, sleeping patterns, and energy levels. Depression can be treated with therapy, medication, or both.
Mental disorders
Mental disorders are conditions that affect how you think, feel, and handle yourself in everyday life. They may be caused by biological factors (e.g., genes) or interact with your environment to cause problems in your thinking or behavior (e.g., trauma or abuse).
Some mental disorders are chronic (ongoing) conditions that require treatment over time; others tend to remit (improve for a period of time only to return at a later date). Some mental disorders have no known cure but can be managed with medication and psychotherapy; others may have effective treatments in the form of surgery or other procedures if needed.
Schizophrenia Mental disorders
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that can manifest itself in many ways and at different times in the life of the individual. It is characterized by a wide variety of symptoms and can be severe enough to interfere with normal functioning. Schizophrenia affects about 1 percent of the population, which makes it one of the most common mental disorders.
Mental disorders are diagnosed when a person experiences distress or impairment in his or her ability to function as an individual. Mental disorders affect millions of people worldwide, but they are not always easy to diagnose or treat. In fact, some people have signs of mental illness but don't know they have it until they seek help from a doctor or counselor.
The 8 most common mental disorders include:
Major depressive disorder
Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
Anxiety panic disorder
Social phobia or social anxiety disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Specific phobia
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that causes people to have unwanted, unwanted thoughts, called obsessions. People with OCD have an excessive fear of harm to themselves or others, and they try to neutralize these thoughts through rituals or compulsions.
These rituals are performed even though they are not necessary to prevent harm. Obsessions and compulsions can be very disruptive to daily life, causing people with OCD to isolate themselves from others and reduce their participation in social activities.
OCD affects 2% of all adults at some point in their lives, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). It's one of the most common anxiety disorders, affecting about 4% of those who suffer from anxiety disorders overall. In children and adolescents, it affects 1%–2%. It's also the second most common mental illness in the U.S., after major depressive disorder (MDD).
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
OCD is characterized by intrusive thoughts that cause the sufferer to worry excessively and repeatedly about something. The person with OCD may engage in repetitive behaviors or mental acts, such as hand washing or checking, to reduce the anxiety caused by his or her obsessive thoughts.
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. GAD is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worrying about everyday things such as health concerns and family problems. Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear that may feel like a heart attack or dizziness.
PTSD is characterized by flashbacks of a traumatic event that can occur at any time and lead to severe anxiety symptoms. Social anxiety disorder involves being excessively self-conscious around others. Specific phobias involve irrational fears of specific objects or situations such as animals and water.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can be treated with therapy, medication, and/or participation in support groups.
Flashbacks – Recurrent intrusive recollections of the traumatic event, including images, thoughts, and feelings that cannot be attributed to another cause.
Avoidance – People with PTSD may avoid activities or places where they might encounter reminders of their trauma. For example, they may avoid talking about what happened to them or going to places where they think the incident may have occurred.
Re-experiencing – The person may re-experience the traumatic event through nightmares or flashbacks during which he or she relives the experience in detail. These memories may also involve other people involved in the trauma who weren’t involved at all or weren’t around when it occurred.
Negative changes in mood and behavior – These symptoms are often triggered by reminders of what happened to you during the trauma and can include depression, anger, irritability, anxiety, and sadness.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic and excessive worrying about everyday life events or a specific event or activity, with no apparent cause for concern to the sufferer. Sufferers often feel on edge and may constantly be thinking about the same thing, causing them to feel restless, irritable, and tired.
When people are diagnosed with GAD, they're likely to have experienced symptoms for at least six months and to be bothered by their symptoms most of the time.
The most common fear that people with this disorder experience is being embarrassed in social situations. They will often experience severe physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach problems, fatigue, and muscle weakness when they are stressed out or worried about an upcoming situation.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a type of anxiety disorder that develops when you have excessive worry about everyday things. You experience persistent and excessive worry about life events, such as your health or work performance. You also worry about future events and circumstances.
A GAD diagnosis occurs when you experience chronic anxiety for at least six months, and it interferes with your daily life for more than six months. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by a feeling of nervousness, restlessness, and muscle tension that affects all aspects of your life.
Mental disorders are common and can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life.
Mental disorders are common and can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life. It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness at some point in their lives. It is important to understand the signs of mental illness, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and more.
If you or someone you know needs help with a mental health condition, contact your doctor right away.
Mental disorders are common and can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life. They can be caused by physical illnesses, environmental factors, or genetic predispositions.
Mental disorders are diagnosed when the symptoms cause significant distress or interfere with daily functioning. Some mental disorders are more common than others, but all of them affect millions in the U.S.
1. Major Depressive Episode
2. Bipolar Disorder
3. Social Anxiety Disorder
4. Panic Disorder
5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
6. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
7. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
8. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
9. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
10. Eating Disorders
Mental disorders are common and can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life.
Mental disorders are diagnosed when a person experiences symptoms that interfere with their ability to function in daily life. They may also be classified as behavioral, psychiatric, or neurological conditions. Mental disorders are the most common medical diagnosis in the United States.
In fact, about one-fifth of all Americans age 18 and older have received a mental health diagnosis at some point in their lives, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Mental disorders are defined by these two characteristics:
They cause distress and interfere with social functioning.
They don't resolve without treatment.
Conclusion
When you think of mental health, you probably don't envision a highly specialized area of medicine that includes a number of different disorders. However, there is a wide range of disorders identified by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), some of which can be very serious.
In an effort to raise awareness and improve public knowledge about these illnesses, we took it upon ourselves to research the issue and provide a breakdown of the 10 most common mental disorders, what they are, and how they might affect you or a loved one if left untreated.
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