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Mental Illness Awareness

Please reblog this post to raise awareness of mental illness and to spread the facts about the most common mental illnesses in the US. It is incredibly important to educate people about such a serious subject, especially when it is so frequently misunderstood.

“An estimated 22.1% of Americans ages 18 and older-about 1 in 5 adults-suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. “ 44.3 million people struggle with mental illnesses in the U.S. alone. Mental illness may be common, but people don’t really know much about it. Let’s change that.

Below, you will find information about the 3 most common forms of mental illnesses, as well as information about the 3 most commonly diagnosed disorders within them. There will also be resources to use if you suspect yourself or a loved one has a mental illness, such as hotlines, common advice from doctors about how improve mental state in your day to day life, etc.

***Please note that the 9 disorders below are not all of the mental illnesses here are. There are many more and it is highly encouraged that you look into them further if you are concerned or generally wish to know more.***

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders affect around 21 million U.S. adults, and serve as an umbrella over illnesses such as Depression, Dysthymic, and Bipolar.

Depression

Depression affects over 15 million adults in the U.S. It is more common in women and the leading cause of disability in individuals ages 15-44. It requires a medical diagnosis and there are many treatment options, such as therapy and medication. If untreated, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts, other mental disorders, self harm, and in extreme cases, suicide.

Warning signs include:

sadness

tiredness

trouble focusing or concentrating

unhappiness

anger

irritability

frustration

loss of interest in pleasurable or fun activities

sleep issues (too much or too little)

no energy

craving unhealthy foods

anxiety

isolation

etc…

Dysthymia

Dysthymia is prolonged chronic depression with less severe symptoms than major depressive disorder. It affects 3 million U.S. adults and can be treated with therapy and anti-depressants. Like depression, Dysthymic requires a medical diagnosis.

Symptoms Include:

Loss of interest in daily activities

Sadness, emptiness or feeling down

Hopelessness

Tiredness and lack of energy

Low self-esteem, self-criticism or feeling incapable

Trouble concentrating and trouble making decisions

Irritability or excessive anger

Decreased activity, effectiveness and productivity

Avoidance of social activities

Feelings of guilt and worries over the past

Poor appetite or overeating

Sleep problems

Bipolar

Bipolar is a mental disorder that brings severe high and low moods and changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior. It requires a medical diagnosis and affects 6 million U.S. adults. It can be treated with therapy and medication.

Bipolar is split into two categories which are described as Bipolar depression, and Bipolar Mania.

Bipolar mania symptoms include:

Euphoria or irritability

Increased energy and activity

Excessive talk; racing thoughts

Inflated self-esteem

Unusual energy; less need for sleep

Impulsiveness, a reckless pursuit of gratification (shopping sprees, impetuous travel, more and sometimes promiscuous sex, high-risk business investments, fast driving)

Bipolar depression symptoms include:

Depressed mood and low self-esteem

Low energy levels and apathy

Sadness, loneliness, helplessness, guilt

Slow speech, fatigue, and poor coordination

Insomnia or oversleeping

Suicidal thoughts and feelings

Poor concentration

Lack of interest or pleasure in usual activities

Personality Disorders

Personality Disorders affect 9% of the U.S. population, and the 3 most common disorders in this category are Antisocial, Avoidant, and Borderline behaviors.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Antisocial Personality Disorder is described as an unwillingness to follow social rules and cultural norms, difficulty recognizing the difference between right and wrong, and showing little remorse. This disorder requires a medical diagnosis and is very difficult to treat, however, it can be improved with therapy and medication.

Symptoms Include:

Disregard for right and wrong

Persistent lying or deceit to exploit others

Being callous, cynical and disrespectful of others

Using charm or wit to manipulate others for personal gain or personal pleasure

Arrogance, a sense of superiority and being extremely opinionated

Recurring problems with the law, including criminal behavior

Repeatedly violating the rights of others through intimidation and dishonesty

Impulsiveness or failure to plan ahead

Hostility, significant irritability, agitation, aggression or violence

Lack of empathy for others and lack of remorse about harming others

Unnecessary risk-taking or dangerous behavior with no regard for the safety of self or others

Poor or abusive relationships

Failure to consider the negative consequences of behavior or learn from them

Being consistently irresponsible and repeatedly failing to fulfill work or financial obligations

Avoidant Personality Disorder

This disorder affects 5% of the U.S. population, yet lacks updated treatment options. Individuals with Avoidant Personality Disorder tend to be shy, feel inadequate, and sensitive to others’ opinions of them. This can be treated with therapy, anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety medication.

Symptoms Include:

Avoids occupational activities that involve significant interpersonal contact, because of fears of criticism, disapproval, or rejection

Is unwilling to get involved with people unless certain of being liked

Shows restraint within intimate relationships because of the fear of being shamed or ridiculed

Is preoccupied with being criticized or rejected in social situations

Is inhibited in new interpersonal situations because of feelings of inadequacy

Views themself as socially inept, personally unappealing, or inferior to others

Is unusually reluctant to take personal risks or to engage in any new activities because they may prove embarrassing

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder affects how you feel about yourself, how you relate to others and how you behave. It is speculated that Borderline Personality Disorder anywhere from 2% to 10% of the population in the U.S.. This disorder can be treated with therapy and medication, and requires a medical diagnosis.

Symptoms Include:

An intense fear of abandonment, even going to extreme measures to avoid real or imagined separation or rejection

A pattern of unstable intense relationships, such as idealizing someone one moment and then suddenly believing the person doesn’t care enough or is cruel

Rapid changes in self-identity and self-image that include shifting goals and values, and seeing yourself as bad or as if you don’t exist at all

Periods of stress-related paranoia and loss of contact with reality, lasting from a few minutes to a few hours

Impulsive and risky behavior, such as gambling, reckless driving, unsafe sex, spending sprees, binge eating or drug abuse, or sabotaging success by suddenly quitting a good job or ending a positive relationship

Suicidal threats or behavior or self-injury, often in response to fear of separation or rejection

Wide mood swings lasting from a few hours to a few days, which can include intense happiness, irritability, shame or anxiety

Ongoing feelings of emptiness

Inappropriate, intense anger, such as frequently losing your temper, being sarcastic or bitter, or having physical fights

Eating Disorders

10-15% of all Americans suffer from some type of serious eating disorder. 61% of American adults are either overweight or obese. An estimated 10-15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are males. Many clinicians believe that this figure is underreported because many men are ashamed to admit that they may be suffering from something thought to affect only women.

Information from mirasol.net

Eating Disorders discussed below are Bulimia, Anorexia, and Binge-eating Disorder

Bulimia

People with bulimia may secretly binge — eating large amounts of food — and then purge, trying to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way. For example, someone with bulimia may force vomiting or engage in excessive exercise. Sometimes people purge after eating only a small snack or a normal-size meal. Bulimia is life threatening and extremely serious, and complications can include tearing the walls of the stomach after excessive binging and purging. Between 1.1% and 4.6% of females and 0.1% to 0.5% of males will develop bulimia

Symptoms Include:

Being preoccupied with your body shape and weight

Living in fear of gaining weight

Feeling that you can’t control your eating behavior

Eating until the point of discomfort or pain

Eating much more food in a binge episode than in a normal meal or snack

Forcing yourself to vomit or exercise too much to keep from gaining weight after bingeing

Misusing laxatives, diuretics or enemas after eating

Restricting calories or avoiding certain foods between binges

Using dietary supplements or herbal products excessively for weight loss

Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that makes people lose more weight than is considered healthy for their age and height. This disorder is usually self-diagnosable, and can be treated by a medical professional.

Symptoms Include:

You don’t eat enough, so you’re underweight

Your self-esteem is based on the way your body looks

You are obsessed with and terrified of gaining weight

It’s hard for you to sleep through the night

Dizziness or fainting

Your hair is falling out

You no longer get your period

Constipation

You feel like your heart is beating in a strange way

Dehydration

Swollen arms or legs

Warning Signs Include:

Constant worry about dieting, food, calories, and weight

You complain a lot about being “fat”

You refuse to eat whole groups of food, like carbohydrates

You pretend you’re not hungry when really you are

You stick to a difficult exercise schedule

You avoid friends and have no interest in your usual activities

You lie about how much food you’ve eaten

You check yourself in the mirror a lot

Not wanting to eat in public

You wear layers of clothes so people can’t see how much you weigh

Binge-Eating

“Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances, or a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating). Between 0.2% and 3.5% of females and 0.9% and 2.0% of males will develop binge eating disorder.”

Information from nationaleatingdisorders.org

Symptoms Include:

Eating much more rapidly than normal.

Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.

Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.

Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating.

Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward.

If you suspect that yourself or a loved one has a mental illness, mentioned here or otherwise, please contact a medical professional and seek proper diagnosis and treatment. If you display all or some of these symptoms, it is crucial that you seek help. This does not serve as a diagnosis. Only a doctor can provide you with advice as to how to improve your mental health and where to go from here.

If you have previously been diagnosed with a mental illness and have trouble coping with it on your own, the following is common advice from medical professionals:

Utilize resources, such as hotlines for suicidal thoughts or episodes of panic

Use breathing exercises when overwhelmed

Exercise regularly

Practice a nutritional and balanced diet

Embrace the support of your family and friends

The National Alliance On Mental Illness has a myriad of useful resources for those struggling with metal illness, or a loved one who raises concern of a crisis. You can visit this site for information on how to prepare for a potential crisis, and where to find a contact when you’re in need.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call 800-273-TALK (8255) Crisis Text Line –Text NAMI to 741-741

Author’s Note: Anxiety Disorder was not mentioned in this article, however, it is a very serious and common mental disorder, and I highly suggest looking into it and seeking information on it.

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