Common Mental Health Disorders

Mental health symptoms can be confusing. Understanding common mental health disorders can help you recognize and address your situation more clearly. At Anne Huebner & Associations, our professionals are here to help you with an accurate diagnosis and effective therapy strategies to help you feel better. 

 

Depression

Called Major Depressive Disorder and the common cold of mental disorders, depression is typically diagnosed when you have experienced a low or sad mood and lack of motivation for two full weeks. At least four other symptoms must be occur such as fatigue, feeling worthless or guilty, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, suicidal thoughts, increased irritability, tearfulness, feeling sluggish or on edge, or changes in appetite with weight loss or weight gain.

 

Dysthymia 

This disorder is sometimes called a mild depression since a few days of normal mood are interspersed with typical depression symptoms. Dysthymia is diagnosed when you have experienced a depressed or low mood most of the day or for a majority of days over a two-year time span. Two more symptoms such as low self-esteem, fatigue, sleep or appetite changes, poor concentration, and feeling hopeless must also be present during this time frame.

 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

This anxiety disorder involves uncontrollable, excessive worry and anxiety about situations such as different physical sensations or issues, what others think, and  future problems you may have. Other symptoms include feeling edgy, muscle tension, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and insomnia.

 

Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are brief periods of extreme fear and physical discomfort, and they may be diagnosed with or without — a fearful feeling in social settings where you feel little sense of control. The intense symptoms of a panic attack involve rapid heartbeat, sweating, shortness of breath, feeling of choking, chest pain or tightness, nausea or abdominal distress, feeling dizzy or light-headed, chills or flushes, numbness or tingling, fear of dying, or a fear of “going crazy.”

 

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A diagnosis of PTSD occurs when you have experienced an extremely stressful event such as a life-threatening situation, severe illness, physical violence, or sexual violence. Additional distressing symptoms include:

 

• Re-experiencing or re-living the trauma through dreams, memories, thoughts, or sensations

• A tendency to avoid thoughts, feelings, or situations related to the trauma 

• Increased anxiety symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, feeling “on edge,” difficulty concentrating 

• Thinking negatively about yourself, others, and the future 

• Feeling detached from yourself and others, and a lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities 

 

These post-traumatic symptoms may occur immediately after a severe stressor, or they may occur weeks or even years later.