Here we will look at the different types of mental health conditions, their causes and the effect they can have on people’s lives.
Anxiety disorders including PTSD, OCD, phobias and panic attacks.
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.
Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For example, feeling worried and anxious about sitting an exam or going for a job interview. Some people find it hard to control their worries. When feelings of anxiety are more severe, this can often affect their daily lives dramatically.
There are a number of conditions where the main symptom is anxiety. Let’s have a look at these…
1. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD means having regular or uncontrollable worries about many different things in everyday life.
Because there are lots of possible symptoms of anxiety, it means the problems experienced with GAD can be different for different people. GAD is a common condition, estimated to affect up to 5% of the UK population. Slightly more women are affected than men. The condition is more common in people from the ages of 35 to 59.
Causes
The exact cause of GAD is not fully understood, although it is likely a combination of things can contribute towards it. Click below to find out what research suggests the causes include…
Signs and symptoms
GAD can cause both psychological (mental) and physical symptoms. Click on the tabs below to identify these and to see the effects…
2. Panic disorder
Panic disorder is a severe anxiety disorder where someone has regular and sudden attacks of panic or fear.
Sometimes these attacks are without a clear cause or trigger. Experiencing panic disorder can mean feeling constantly afraid of having another panic attack, to the point that this fear itself can trigger another attack.
During a panic attack, people experience intense mental and physical symptoms. It can come on very quickly, for no apparent reason and it can be very frightening and distressing. Most panic attacks last between 5 and 20 minutes. Some have been reported to last up to an hour.
Causes
The exact cause of panic disorder is not fully known. It is thought to be linked to a number of things. Flip the cards to see what these are…
Signs and symptoms
Flip the cards to see the signs and symptoms…
It is important to be aware that most of these symptoms can also be symptoms of other conditions or problems.
For example, low blood pressure, so it is important to ensure people get medical attention.
Effects
The effect of panic attacks can include more fear and therefore more panic attacks. People may not want to go to social events, see family and friends or even go to work because they are frightened of having an attack.
3. Phobias
A phobia is an overwhelming fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal.
If a phobia becomes very severe, a person may organise their life around avoiding the thing that is causing them anxiety. As well as restricting their day-to-day life, it can also cause a lot of distress.
A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder. People may not experience any symptoms until they come into contact with the source of the phobia. In some cases, even thinking about the source of a phobia can make a person feel anxious or panicky.
There are 2 types of phobia:
Click on the tabs below to see what these are…
Causes
Phobias do not have a single cause, but there are a number of factors that can can make them happen. See below for some examples…
Symptoms can include:
Flip the cards to learn more…
How did you do? Let’s have a look at these in a bit more detail.
Expand the sections below…
Effects
If people do not come into contact with the source of their phobia very often, for example, mice or spiders, it may not affect their everyday life. But if someone has a complex phobia, such as agoraphobia, leading a normal life can be very difficult. Phobias can stop people from seeing friends, going to specific places and in extreme cases, it can stop people from leaving the house or going to work. This means it is no laughing matter. It can be very serious!
4. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events.
PTSD is estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience. It is not clear exactly why some people develop the condition and others do not. People who repeatedly experience traumatic situations, such as severe neglect, ongoing abuse or violence, may be diagnosed with complex PTSD.
PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event, or it can occur weeks, months, or even years later.
Causes
Any situation that a person finds traumatic can cause PTSD. Flip the cards to see what this can include:
Expand the points below to see when complex PTSD is thought to be more severe…
Signs and symptoms
PTSD can involve experiencing flashbacks or nightmares which can feel like the person is reliving all the fear and anxiety that was experienced at the time of the traumatic event. People can have problems sleeping and find concentrating difficult. They may experience feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt.
Complex PTSD can cause similar symptoms to PTSD and may not develop until years after the event.
Flip the cards to see what the symptoms are…
Effects
The symptoms of PTSD are often severe and persistent enough to have a significant impact on a person’s day-to-day life. Insomnia, lack of concentration and low mood can affect people’s ability to work.
Mood fluctuations, risky behaviours and social isolation can affect relationships. As it may take years for the symptoms of complex PTSD to be recognised, a child’s development, including their behaviour and self-confidence, can alter as they get older.
Adults with complex PTSD may lose their trust in people and feel separated from others.
5. Obsessive Compulsive disorder (OCD)
OCD is a common mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
OCD can affect men, women and children. Some people start having symptoms early, often around puberty, but it usually starts during early adulthood. Most people with OCD need professional help to overcome it.
Causes
It is not clear what causes OCD. A number of different factors may play a part. Expand the sections below to see these…
Signs and symptoms
With OCD, people experience frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. An obsession is an unwanted and unpleasant thought, image or urge that repeatedly enters the mind, causing feelings of anxiety, disgust or unease. For example, that “germs are everywhere”.
A compulsion is a repetitive behaviour or mental act that you feel you need to do to temporarily relieve the unpleasant feelings brought on by the obsessive thought.
For example, cleaning every surface in the house with bleach several times a day. Often these behaviours are repetitive, for example, cleaning everything three times just to be sure. Clearly in an era of heightened awareness of coronaviruses, a bit of extra cleaning is not a bad thing!
Effects
OCD can be distressing and significantly interfere with a person’s life. Women can sometimes have OCD during pregnancy or after their baby is born. Obsessions may include worrying about harming the baby or caring for them properly. Compulsions could be things such as repeatedly checking the baby is breathing. OCD can affect a person’s ability to work. It can put a strain on relationships and affect people’s ability to do every day tasks.
6. Other conditions associated with anxiety
Expand the sections below to see these…
Living with anxiety
Watch this short video (4:44) from the charity Mind, featuring people talking about living with mental health.
Depressive illness
Causes
There is no single cause of depression. It can occur for a variety of reasons and it has many different triggers. Different causes can often combine to trigger depression. For example, someone may be physically unwell and then experience a traumatic event, such as a bereavement, which then brings on depression.
Some studies have also suggested that people are more likely to get depression as they get older and that it is more common in people who live in difficult social and economic circumstances.
Click on the tabs below to see how doctors describe the severity of depression…
- Mild depression – has some impact on daily life.
- Moderate depression – has a significant impact on daily life.
- Severe depression – makes it almost impossible to get through daily life; a few people with severe depression may have psychotic symptoms.
Expand the points below to see some of the factors that can cause depression…
Flip the cards to see the psychological symptoms of depression…
Flip the cards to see the physical symptoms of depression…
Flip the cards to see the social symptoms of depression…
Effects
If symptoms of depression persist for weeks or months and are bad enough, they can interfere with work, social, and family life and cause breakdown in these areas.
Post natal depression
Depression after a baby is born can be extremely distressing.
Postnatal depression is thought to affect around 1 in 10 women. During the first week after childbirth, many women get what is sometimes called the “baby blues”. Women can experience a low mood and feel mildly depressed at a time when they expect they should feel happy after having a baby. These feelings often disappear after a short time. Post natal depression is where there are more severe symptoms which last for a longer period of time.
Click below to find out the causes of postnatal depression…
- Previous mental health problems.
- Military combat.
- Domestic violence or other abuse.
- Childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect or trauma.
- Stressful living conditions.
- A lack of social support.
- Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy.
Flip the cards to see the signs and symptoms of postnatal depression…
Effects
Post natal depression can cause problems in relationships, work and life in general. A mother’s relationship with their baby may suffer. They may not give as much attention to their baby as they would like to. As a result, the baby’s development may not be as quick as it should be. There is evidence to suggest that developmental problems that occur in a baby because of a mother’s depression may persist into adolescence.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
SAD is sometimes known as “winter depression” because the symptoms are usually more apparent and more severe during the winter.
A few people with SAD may have symptoms during the summer and feel better during the winter.
Causes
The exact cause of SAD is not fully known, but it is often linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during the autumn and winter months. The main theory is that a lack of sunlight might stop a part of the brain called the hypothalamus working properly, which may affect the production of melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that makes you feel sleepy; in people with SAD, the body may produce it in higher than normal levels.
A lack of sunlight may also lead to lower serotonin levels, which is linked to feelings of depression. Lower light levels during the winter may disrupt a person’s body clock and lead to symptoms of SAD. It is also possible that some people are more vulnerable to SAD as a result of their genes, as in some cases it appears to run in families.
Flip the cards to see the signs and symptoms of SAD…
Effects
For some people, these symptoms can be severe and can have a significant impact on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities during the winter months.
Depression | Talking about mental health – Episode 4
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects mood.
Moods can swing from one extreme to another. It used to be known as “manic depression”. Bipolar disorder is fairly common. 1 in every 100 people will be diagnosed with it at some point in their life. Bipolar disorder can occur at any age, although it often develops between the ages of 15 and 19 and rarely develops after 40.
Men and women from all backgrounds are equally likely to develop bipolar disorder. The pattern of mood swings in bipolar disorder varies widely. For example, some people only have a couple of bipolar episodes in their lifetime and are stable in between, while others have many episodes.
Causes
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, although it is believed a number of things can trigger an episode.
Flip the cards to see these triggers…
Signs and Symptoms
Open both tabs below to see what people with bipolar disorder can experience…
Symptoms of bipolar disorder depend on which mood is being experienced.
Unlike simple mood swings, each extreme episode of bipolar disorder can last for several weeks or even longer. During an episode of depression, people may have overwhelming feelings of worthlessness, which can potentially lead to thoughts of suicide.
Effects
The high and low phases of bipolar disorder are often so extreme that they interfere with someone’s life. The mood swings can affect work, relationships and the ability to do everyday tasks.
Eating disorders
Anyone can have an eating disorder, but teenagers between 13 and 17 are mostly affected.
Click on the tabs to see the most common eating disorders…
Click on the tabs to see the signs and symptoms of eating disorders…
Effects
As well as the effect on socialising and relationships that may be damaged through avoiding food and being secretive about it, people with eating disorders are at risk of developing numerous health conditions because their bodies are deprived of the vital nutrients that they need to work properly.
Schizophrenia
(Including schizo-affective disorder, paranoia, psychosis and hallucinations).
Schizophrenia is a severe long-term mental health condition.
It causes a range of different symptoms. Doctors often describe schizophrenia as a type of psychosis. This means the person may not always be able to distinguish their own thoughts and ideas from reality. Schizophrenia does not necessarily cause someone to be violent and people with schizophrenia do not have a split personality. Most people diagnosed with schizophrenia are aged between 18 and 35.
Causes
The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown. But most experts believe the condition is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is thought that some people are more vulnerable to developing schizophrenia and certain situations can trigger the condition, such as a stressful life event or drug misuse.
Signs and Symptoms
Sometimes schizophrenia symptoms are described as being ‘positive’ and ‘negative’. But this does not mean ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Positive symptoms are experiences or behaviours that the condition adds to someones life. Like hearing or seeing things that others do not or having a belief that something is real or true when it is not.
Expand the sections below to see some examples…
Negative symptoms
Negative symptoms are experiences or behaviours that the condition takes away from someone’s life. Flip the cards to see some examples…
Psychosis
Hallucinations and delusions are forms of psychosis.
Psychosis can also be…
If someone has manic symptoms due to bipolar disorder they may also experience psychosis in the form of delusions.
Schizoaffective disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is a condition where symptoms of both psychotic and mood disorders are present together during one episode (or within a two week period of each other).
For example, someone may have symptoms of bipolar disorder and psychosis at the same time.
Effects
The effects of schizophrenia, paranoia, psychosis and schizoaffective disorder can be very disabling. As well as affecting relationships, the ability to work and carry out day to day activities, it can be very distressing when severe symptoms arise. They can last for several weeks and sometimes people need hospital treatment.
Hearing voices, paranoia and schizophrenia | Miles’s Mental Health Story | Mind
Personality disorders
People with a personality disorder, have significant difficulties in how they think and feel about themselves and others.
Around 1 in 20 people in the UK have a personality disorder. They can be hard to define and diagnose so often go unrecognised for a long time. There are several different types of personality disorder and they tend to be identified in three groups.
Click on the tabs to see these…
Causes
Possible causes of personality disorder include (flip the cards)…
Signs and Symptoms
Flip the cards to see the symptoms…
Effects
The feelings and behaviours associated with personality disorders can be very difficult to live with. It can affect relationships and work. People who have a personality disorder often experience depression and the affects that go with it.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) | Talking about mental health – Episode 5
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is a condition that affects people’s behaviour.
People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse. Some people with ADHD may have problems with inattentiveness but not with hyperactivity or impulsiveness. This form of ADHD is also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD). ADD can sometimes go unnoticed because the symptoms may be less obvious.
Causes
The exact cause of ADHD is not fully known although a combination of factors is thought to be responsible. Click on the tabs below to see these…
Some groups of people are thought to be more at risk of ADHD, including:
- People who were born early or with a low birthweight
- People with epilepsy
- People with brain damage, for example, after a severe head injury.
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers are usually apparent before the age of 6.
Flip the cards to see the symptoms of the Attention Deficit (AD) or Inattentiveness…
Flip the cards to see the symptoms of the Hyperactivity (H) and impulsiveness…
Effects
Open both tabs below to see the effects on children and adults…
ADHD can be treated using medicines or therapy but a combination of both is often best.
ADHD medicines improve attention by helping normal brain chemicals work better. The therapies that are used to treat ADHD include cognitive behaviour therapy and group therapy.
Insomnia
Most of us have suffered the odd sleepless night but for some people this can be every night.
Insomnia is thought to affect about a third of people in the UK and it is more common in older people. Half of people over 65 have insomnia at some point.
Causes
There can be many things that contribute to insomnia.
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