Mental Illness and Depression - A Guide for the Uninformed

Introduction

The first step to understanding mental illness is to know what it is. Mental illness is a broad term that encompasses many different things, from depression and anxiety to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It's important for those who don't suffer from any mental illness to understand the signs of mental illness in order to better help those who do.

Mental illnesses are not just emotional problems, but rather they are complex brain disorders that can affect someone's mood, thinking, behavior, or physical health. Mental illnesses can be diagnosed by a psychiatrist or psychologist with a formal evaluation including interviews with the patient and family members and completion of psychological tests.

A Guide for the Uninformed: Mental Illness & Depression

Depression

Depression is a mental illness that causes people to feel sad, hopeless, and uninterested in activities they once enjoyed.

Symptoms of depression can vary from person to person. Some people may have only one or two symptoms, while others may have more. Symptoms of depression include:

• Feeling sad or down in the dumps most of the time

• Feeling hopeless about the future

• Feeling irritable or angry for no reason

• Losing interest in activities that used to be pleasurable or enjoyable (e.g., sex)

• Sleeping too much or not enough

• Eating too much or not enough (typically feeling very hungry but unable to eat)

• Having difficulty concentrating on things and making decisions

Anxiety

Anxiety is a mental health condition that is characterized by excessive and persistent worry, fear of future events, and sometimes panic attacks. It can disrupt the way a person functions socially, at work or school, and in other important aspects of everyday life.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the U.S., affecting more than 18% of adults each year. Anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness in children as well.

There are many different types of anxiety disorders including: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder.

Schizophrenia & Psychosis

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are mental health conditions characterized by disorganized thinking, delusions, hallucinations, difficulty concentrating and social withdrawal.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a breakdown in the thought process. The person may have trouble with reality testing and maintaining personal relationships. Schizophrenia is considered to be a chronic disorder that can be managed but not cured.

Psychosis is a state of mind in which one cannot tell the difference between what is real and what isn't real. Psychosis can affect any person at any age, but it most often occurs in young adults between the ages of 18-25 years old.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes a person to experience mood swings. The mood swings can be from very high and happy to very low and sad.

Bipolar disorder is different from cyclothymia, which is a milder form of bipolar disorder. With cyclothymia, the mood swings are not as extreme or long lasting.

Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD; What is it Really?

Borderline personality disorder is a mental illness that affects the way people think, feel, and act.

BPD is a mental illness that can make it difficult to keep relationships or jobs. It may also lead to self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse.

It's important to know the symptoms of BPD so that you can get help if you need it. The symptoms include sudden mood swings, intense fear of abandonment, unstable sense of self-identity and impulsivity.

Mental Illness and Addiction; Is Your Mental Illness Causing Your Addictions? 

Mental Illness is a condition that affects the brain. It can cause symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and hallucinations. Addiction is a chronic disease that causes people to feel an intense need for something harmful.

Mental illness can lead to addiction in many cases, but not always. For example, people with depression might turn to drugs or alcohol because they are feeling hopeless or are trying to escape from their feelings.

It is important to understand the relationship between mental illness and addiction because this understanding can help you prevent addiction from developing in the first place.