Mental health issues have been getting more and more attention in the media in recent years – finally. And while there is a wide spectrum of disorders which you can suffer from, there are five common conditions which are talked about the more. It is these that we are going to discuss in this article, as well as a few of the most common types of treatment out there. The five conditions are depression, anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse and attention deficit disorder.
Of course, if you think that you are suffering from any of these issues, you should seek to get professional support from a trained medical professional. It is estimated that one in five Americans will suffer with one of these conditions in any given year, so it is important to remember that you are very far from being alone. And as time goes on, new treatment methods are being discovered and put into practice. So, let’s look at each of them in more detail now.
Depression
Depression is the mental health disorder which gets discussed the most as so many people have suffered from some of it, ranging from the mild to the severe. Some forms of depression can be brought on by a specific negative event in a person’s life, while others are more long-term and don’t have such as logical explanation. As well as general feelings of sadness, depression is often categorised by a lack of motivation in participating in various aspects of life. Common symptoms include changes in appetite, difficulty in concentrating, sleep problems, and a general feeling of hopelessness.
The conventional treatments are different depending on the individual, but they often involve support from the likes of a psychiatrist, counsellor, and those closest to the person including friends and family members. Psychotherapy has been proven to be effective in numerous cases, and others try TMS, or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation which you can learn more about here. And in other more serious cases, it is often decided that medication is needed.
Anxiety
Anxiety involves suffering from worries or fears which are persistent and interfere with daily activities including work. There are various different types of anxiety disorder out there but a generalized anxiety disorder is seemingly the most common one. A few of the most common symptoms include difficulty concentrating, tiredness, irritability, and a rapid heart rate. Like depression, medication and counseling are two of the most common treatment methods.
Anxiety can be further subcategorized into panic disorders, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Each of them has its own negative symptoms which people can find to be highly disruptive to their daily lives.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders can occur in a person’s life either in childhood or in adulthood. They can be brought on by being made fun of their size (whether this is considered too big or too small) or having a distorted perspective of themselves. Eating disorders are categorized by having highly charged emotions when it comes to food, behaviors that range from the unusual to the destructive, and a host of body image issues.
A few of the most common eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. The first involves extreme limited eating and calorie restriction which can then lead to concerns of being malnourished. Various forms of therapy and support groups are available for people going through this particular issue. Bulimia involves binge eating food and purging it again by the person making themselves vomit. This condition can seriously damage the body in various ways including tooth decay, dry skin, and facial swelling. And binge eating alone is characterized by a lack of control when it comes to eating. Each condition can then have other associated issues such as depression and anxiety which is why it is so important that they are treated at the earliest possible opportunity.
Substance Abuse or Addiction
There are all sorts of substances that can be destructive including alcohol, tobacco, and drugs ranging from legal to illegal. There are also certain behaviors that can be addictive like gambling – and there is plenty of talk about other modern behaviors that can be addictive such as spending an unhealthy amount of time on social media. Regular self-abusive behavior with these substances can then lead to addiction.
There are plenty of treatment options out there that can help people in their effort to overcome substance abuse problems. For substance abuse of all kind, detox treatments are an option which involves direct medical intervention and supervision. These can range in timescale from a single week to several months. As well as helping to wean the person off the addictive substance, there is also plenty of counseling and classes involves as well. Ultimately, it takes a sustained and sometimes lifelong effort to end addictive behavior once and for all.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
Attention Deficit Disorder is primarily discussed in relation to children. However, this doesn’t mean that adults don’t suffer from this particular condition as well. Some of the main symptoms involve not being able to focus or pay attention for more than a short period of time, general feelings of restlessness, and easiness in being distracted. There are plenty of medical treatments out there that offer relief from these symptoms. Consult with your physician to get more information about all of them. As well as this, a sense of organization and routine in life can significantly help the person who is suffering from the disorder.
There is no doubt that suffering from one or more of these mental health disorders that can be extremely challenging for anyone to face. But learning more about your condition is the first step, before going on to talk to people, and seek treatment. As we have already mentioned a couple of times, you should always get medical advice on the best course of action to take, though it always helps to have a strong support system in place.
