What
are Mental Health Problems?
Feelings
of depression, anxiety or confusion are normal responses
to the ups and downs of modern life. A person is described
as experiencing mental health problems when such feelings
are so extreme that s/he has difficulty carrying on everyday
life.
Depression -
covers a range of psychological distress including lowered
mood making everything seem harder and less worthwhile.
It can be life threatening when very severe, leading
to thoughts of suicide. Specific forms of depression
include Post Natal Depression and Seasonal Affective
Disorder.
Anxiety
States - are having chronic fear, tension
and panic attacks. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
is a specific form of anxiety where people feel they
have no control over their thoughts.
Eating
Disorders - starving to the extent of severe,
sometimes life-threatening slimness is known as anorexia
nervosa. Compulsive eating and vomiting is known as
bulimia nervosa. Both behaviours are a way of coping
with psychological or emotional problems.
Psychosis -
psychiatrists use this term when someone seems unable
to distinguish clearly between reality and what is imaginary,
or what is internal or external to their own thoughts.
The term schizophrenia describes a state of mind in which
people thoughts and perceptions go beyond the range of
normal experience.
Bi-polar
Disorder/Manic Depression - some people experience
profound changes in their mood which can switch from
depression and lethargy to periods of elation and over
activity.
Personality
Disorder - this describes someone with a long-lasting,
inflexible and limited range of attitudes and behaviours
which are unhelpful and distressing. They make it difficult
to develop friendships, maintain relationships and
work co-operatively with others.
Self
Harm - this is a common response to distress
and covers a wide range of behaviour which cause personal
harm, from neglect through to active injury.
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