Your mental health is as important as your physical health. In fact, it deserves more attention as mental health disorders are not visible on the outside. They eat away the person from the inside, leaving nothing but crumbs.
However, many people still deny the reality of mental health disorders. They keep avoiding their psychological well-being until a bigger incident like suicide comes into the picture. To raise mental health awareness and take this to the next step, I would like to share with you three of the most common mental health disorders today.
Knowing all these details will help you steer clear of them. Have a look:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The first one is a generalized anxiety disorder, commonly referred to as GAD. It’s an anxiety disorder that severely affects your day-to-day life, leaving you unable to function properly. Out of all the anxiety disorders, GAD remains the most common. It affects women more than men.
Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Constant feelings of worry and fear
- Trembling, shaking, or sweating
- Increased heart rate and fatigue
- Recurring muscle tension
- Digestive issues and headaches
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
Treatment Options for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- A healthy diet with no caffeine
- Relaxing techniques, including meditation and yoga
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder, also known as depression, is another common mental health disorder. It’s a severe mood disorder that affects everyone, regardless of age and gender. According to the World Health Organization, more than 264 million people have depression worldwide.
Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder
- Persistent feelings of hopelessness and pessimism
- Loss of interest in everyday life activities
- Recurrent body aches and lethargy
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Loss of appetite or binge eating
- Suicidal thoughts or possible attempts
Treatment Options for Major Depressive Disorder
- Antidepressants or benzodiazepines
- Sleep-inducing medications in case of insomnia
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Medicinal herbs, such as Burnaby weed and ashwagandha
- Lifestyle rehabilitation, including exercise and meditation
Bipolar Disorder
The third one is bipolar disorder. It lies somewhere between psychotic and mood disorders, given that it has symptoms of both. It manifests in three different episodes, mania, hypomania, and major depressive episode. Because of that, the symptoms of bipolar disorder vary from person to person, depending on the episode one is going through.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
- An exaggerated sense of self or euphoria
- Excessive talking and irritability
- Decreased need for sleep
- Abnormally jumpy or upbeat behavior
- Racing thoughts and distractibility
- Suicidal thoughts and preoccupation with death
Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder
- Antipsychotics and mood stabilizers
- Benzodiazepines and antidepressants
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Electroconvulsive shock treatment (ECT)
- A healthy diet and sleep cycle
The Takeaway
Apart from that, schizophrenia, social anxiety disorder, and agoraphobia are also quite common these days. Just keep yourself updated about them so that in case of any symptoms, you can go for immediate diagnosis and move towards the treatment. I hope it helps you out. Good day, my friends!
