Mild mental health problems, such as general anxiety, are common and can be helped through proper guidance and support. More severe mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, are less common and pose deeper challenges. Understanding the various forms of mental illness is the best way to start. Here are the 5 most common.
1. ANXIETY DISORDERS
Feeling anxious occasionally is normal, but people who suffer from some form of anxiety disorder experience chronic fear, panic and excessive worry over everyday situations. Their feelings can manifest into physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating and trembling. Types of anxiety disorders include:
- General Anxiety Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
2. MOOD DISORDERS
While we may all experience moments of sadness, anger and irritability, people with a mood disorder get persistent feelings of sadness, or fluctuations from extreme happiness to extreme sadness. The most common mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder.
3. PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
This involves distorted awareness and perception. Symptoms of psychotic disorders are hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that are not real) and delusions. Schizophrenia is an example of a psychotic disorder.
