Some Types of Mental Health Struggles People can face.

Here are a few basics on different types of mental health issues that people face. If any of this sounds like you or if you are struggling, its a great idea to reach out for help. 

WHAT IS ANXIETY? Anxiety can become a problem when it is very intense, happens a lot of the time, feels overwhelming or it interferes with your daily living. Physical feelings of anxiety include an increased heart rate, faster breathing, muscle tension, sweating, shaking and ‘butterflies in the stomach’. People with anxiety disorders experience these physical symptoms a lot more often.

WHAT IS DEPRESSION? Depression is a mental illness characterised by feelings of sadness that lasts longer than usual, affect most parts of your life and stop you enjoying the things that you used to. You may be experiencing depression if, for more than two weeks, you’ve felt sad, depressed or irritable most of the time, or you’ve lost interest or pleasure in your usual activities.

WHAT IS BIPOLAR DISORDER? Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder in which people have times of low mood and times of ‘high’ or elevated mood (mania or hypomania). These episodes usually last at least a week and affect the way a person thinks, feels and acts. The symptoms can interfere with relationships, activities and day-to-day living. Most people who develop bipolar disorder will have experienced some symptoms by the age of 25.

WHAT ARE EATING DISORDERS? A person has an eating disorder when their beliefs about food, weight and body image lead to unhealthy patterns of eating and/or exercising.

WHAT IS PSYCHOSIS? Psychosis causes people to misinterpret or confuse what is going on around them. For example, they may have hallucinations (in which they see or hear things that are not real) or delusions (fixed, but false, beliefs). A first episode of psychosis is most likely to happen in late adolescence or in the early adult years. It is often frightening for the person and misunderstood by others, but psychosis can be treated and most people make a full recovery. 

NOTE: Information sourced from Headspace Youth Mental Health Foundation, Australia. 

Any information on this blog is not a substitute for professional advice. It is written from personal experience and research only. If you are in crisis, go to your nearest emergency room, call lifeline on 13 11 14 or dial 000. If you live outside Australia, link to worldwide crisis numbers can be found in the sidebar.