Depression

Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived emotional responses to challenges in everyday life. During a depressive episode, the person experiences a depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, & empty) or a loss of pleasure or interest in activities, for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

Several other symptoms are also present, which may include poor concentration, feelings of excessive guilt or low self-worth, hopelessness about the future, thoughts about dying or suicide, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite or weight, and feeling especially tired or low in energy. Without treatment, depression can get worse and last longer. In severe cases, it can lead to self-harm or death by suicide.

Symptoms of depression

The symptoms of depression can vary slightly depending on the type and can range from mild to severe. In general, symptoms include:

• Feeling very sad, hopeless, or worried. Children and adolescents with depression may be irritable rather than sad.
• Not enjoying things that used to bring joy.
• Being easily irritated or frustrated.
• Eating too much or too little, which may result in weight gain or weight loss.
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia) or sleeping too much (hypersomnia).
• Having low energy or fatigue.
• Having a difficult time concentrating, making decisions or remembering things.
• Experiencing physical issues like headache, stomachache or sexual dysfunction.
• Having thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

If you or a loved one are thinking about suicide, dial 988 on your phone to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Someone will be available to help you 24/7.

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mood disorder that causes intense shifts in mood, energy levels, and behavior. Manic and hypomanic episodes are the main signs of the condition, and most people with bipolar disorder also have depressive episodes. The condition is manageable with medications, talk therapy, lifestyle changes, and other treatments.

These shifts can last for hours, days, weeks or months and interrupt your ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

There are a few types of bipolar disorder, which involve experiencing significant fluctuations in mood referred to as hypomanic/manic and depressive episodes. However, people with bipolar disorder aren’t always in a hypomanic/manic or depressive state. They also experience periods of normal mood, known as euthymia.

Manic episodes

A key feature of bipolar I disorder is manic episodes. To meet the criteria for bipolar I disorder, you must have had at least one manic episode in your life for at least a week with or without ever experiencing a depressive episode.

Mania is a condition in which you have a period of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, as well as extreme changes in emotions, thoughts, energy, talkativeness, and activity level. This highly energized level of physical and mental activity and behavior is a change from your usual self and is noticeable by others.

People who are in manic states may indulge in activities that cause them physical, social or financial harm, such as suddenly spending or gambling extreme amounts of money or driving recklessly.

Depressive episodes

During a depressive episode, you experience a low or depressed mood and loss of interest in most activities, as well as many other symptoms of depression, such as:

• Tiredness.
• Changes in appetite.
• Feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

It is a common mental health condition that can develop after a traumatic event. It involves symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, negative thoughts and beliefs, hypervigilance, and more.

PTSD involves stress responses like:

• Anxiety, depressed mood, or feelings of guilt or shame.
• Having flashbacks or nightmares.
• Avoiding situations, places, and activities related to the traumatic event.

These symptoms cause distress and interfere with your daily functioning.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric condition that has severe effects on your physical and mental well-being. It disrupts how your brain works, interfering with things like your thoughts, memory, senses, and behaviors. As a result, you may struggle in many parts of your day-to-day life. Untreated schizophrenia often disrupts your relationships (professional, social, romantic, and otherwise). It can also cause you to have trouble organizing your thoughts, and you might behave in ways that put you at risk for injuries or other illnesses.

Types of schizophrenia:

• Schizotypal personality disorder.
• Delusional disorder.
• Brief psychotic disorder.
• Schizophreniform disorder.
• Schizoaffective disorder. etc.

Symptoms of schizophrenia

Many people with schizophrenia can’t recognize that they have symptoms of schizophrenia. But those around you might.

These are the five main symptoms of schizophrenia:

• Delusions: These are false beliefs that you hold even when there’s plenty of evidence that those beliefs are wrong. For example, you might think that someone is controlling what you think, say or do.
• Hallucinations: You still think you can see, hear, smell, touch or taste things that don’t exist, like hearing voices.
• Disorganized or incoherent speaking: You may have trouble organizing your thoughts while speaking. This might look like trouble staying on topic, or your thoughts might be so jumbled that people can’t understand you.
• Disorganized or unusual movements: You might move differently than people around you expect. For example, you may turn around a lot for no clear reason, or you might not move much at all.
• Negative symptoms: These refer to a reduction or loss of your ability to do things as expected. For example, you might stop making facial expressions, or speak with a flat, emotionless voice.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders can occur in people of any age, sex, race, and of all body weights, shapes, and sizes. The physical, mental, and emotional symptoms vary from person to person and by type of eating disorder. People with eating disorders develop an unhealthy relationship with food, their weight, or appearance. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are all types of eating disorders.

Types of eating disorders:

• Anorexia nervosa: People with anorexia nervosa greatly restrict food and calories sometimes to the point of self-starvation. You can have anorexia at any body size. It is characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight and a refusal to eat healthy amounts of food for your body type and activity level.
• Bulimia nervosa: People diagnosed with bulimia nervosa binge or eat, or perceive they ate, large amounts of food over a short time. Afterward, they may force themselves to purge the calories in some way such as vomiting, using laxatives, or exercising excessively to rid their body of the food and calories.
• Binge eating disorder (BED):People who have a binge eating disorder experience compulsory eating behaviors. They eat or perceive that they have eaten large amounts of food in a short period. However, after binging they don’t purge food or burn off calories with exercise. Instead, they feel uncomfortably full and may struggle with shame, regret, guilt, or depression.