Understanding Mental Health Conditions

😔 Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Depression is more than feeling sad—it's a persistent condition that affects how you feel, think, and handle daily activities. To be diagnosed, symptoms must be present most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

Common Symptoms

• Persistent sad or empty mood
• Loss of interest in activities
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Sleep disturbances
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Treatment: Depression is highly treatable. Options include psychotherapy (especially CBT), antidepressant medications (SSRIs, SNRIs), or a combination. Exercise, light therapy, and lifestyle changes also help.

😰 Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive, uncontrollable worry about everyday matters (health, work, relationships) occurring more days than not for at least 6 months.

Key symptoms: Restlessness, muscle tension, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, irritability, fatigue.

💓 Panic Disorder

Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—sudden periods of intense fear with physical symptoms like racing heart, sweating, trembling, and feeling of doom. Fear of future attacks often develops.

Treatment: CBT (especially exposure therapy), SSRIs, and learning to manage panic symptoms. Most people improve significantly with treatment.

👥 Social Anxiety Disorder

Intense fear of social situations due to concerns about being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated. Often leads to avoidance of social interactions.

Key insight: Different from shyness—social anxiety causes significant distress and impairment. Affects about 7% of adults.

💭 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD—about 6% of the population will have PTSD at some point.

Four Symptom Clusters

• Intrusion: Flashbacks, nightmares, distressing memories
• Avoidance: Avoiding reminders of the trauma
• Negative changes: In mood and thinking (guilt, detachment, negative beliefs)
• Arousal: Hypervigilance, startle response, sleep problems, irritability

Effective treatments: Trauma-focused CBT, Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and EMDR all have strong evidence. Medication can help manage symptoms.

🎭 Bipolar I & II

Bipolar disorder involves extreme mood episodes—periods of mania (or hypomania) and depression. It's a lifelong condition that can be effectively managed with treatment.

Manic Episode Signs

• Decreased need for sleep (feeling rested after 3 hours)
• Racing thoughts, rapid speech
• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
• Increased goal-directed activity
• Risky behavior (spending sprees, sexual indiscretions)

Treatment: Mood stabilizers (lithium, valproate), atypical antipsychotics, and psychotherapy. Consistent medication is essential—stopping during stable periods often leads to relapse.

🔄 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety. Affects about 2.5% of adults.

Treatment: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the gold standard. SSRIs at higher doses can also be effective.

⚡ ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

Neurodevelopmental disorder involving persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interferes with functioning. Often continues into adulthood.

Treatment: Stimulant medications (methylphenidate, amphetamines) are highly effective. Behavioral strategies, coaching, and accommodations also help.

🍽️ Eating Disorders

Serious conditions involving disturbed eating behaviors and related thoughts/emotions. Includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.

Key point: Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Early intervention improves outcomes significantly.