Types of mental illnesses
Mental illnesses vary in type and severity. Here is some information that can help us learn more
Anxiety disorders
Feeling anxious about an exam, a job interview, or your first day at work is normal, and can affect sleep and / or appetite. It usually passes away after the event is over. But if it is persistent, affecting one’s ability to cope with everyday life, it becomes a cause for concern. Anxiety attacks can affect sleep, digestion and may cause depression. There are different types of anxiety disorders: panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, etc.
Bipolar disorder
This refers to extreme mood swings between excited, hyperactive behaviour and depression. Some people also experience delusions. There are different types of bipolar disorders, the most severe one being that of mania with psychotic symptoms.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
This is an anxiety disorder related to body image. It may lead to feelings of shame, of wanting to socially isolate oneself, or of feeling suicidal. People with BDD usually hesitate to seek help as they feel they will be judged as vain.
Borderline Personality Disorder
A person is characterized as having a Borderline Personality Disorder if they have five or more of these symptoms: emotions that swing between confidence and despair; inability to maintain relationships; unstable sense of identity; taking risks without thinking of consequences; causing harm to self; fear of abandonment or rejection; and experiencing delusions or hallucinations. This is likely to be accompanied by depression, anxiety disorders or eating disorders.
Depression
Feeling low from time to time is normal and happens to almost everyone. But when these feelings interfere with day-to-day life and persist even after a few weeks, or recur often, it could be a sign that one needs to seek medical help. Severe or major depression can be life threatening as it can may become a serious health condition combined with suicidal feelings.
Paranoia
People experiencing paranoia have a constant fear that something bad will happen. They may feel at risk of emotional, physical or financial harm from others.
Psychosis
When one perceives or interprets things differently from people around them, it is referred to as psychosis. This could include experiencing hallucinations and delusions.
Schizophrenia
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder affecting more than 21 million people worldwide. Schizophrenia is characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour. Common experiences include hearing voices and having delusions. The symptoms can disrupt the ability to carry on day-to-day work.
This is not a comprehensive listing of the various types of mental illnesses. For more details, you can visit the website of the World Health Organization and National Alliance of Mental Illness