Common Conditions

Information on common conditions is provided by The Mayo Clinic and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), lead agencies for research on mental disorders, providing basic information on mental disorders, a range of related topics, and the latest mental health research.

It is not the intention of these resources to provide specific medical advice, but rather to provide users with information to better understand their health and their diagnosed disorders. Consult with a qualified health care provider for diagnosis, treatment, and answers to your personal questions.

Please Note: Links to other websites are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement.

Anxiety Disorders

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. You may avoid places or situations to prevent these feelings.

Emotional symptoms:

Feelings of apprehension or dread
Feeling tense or jumpy
Restlessness or irritability
Anticipating the worst and being watchful for signs of danger

Physical symptoms:

Pounding or racing heart and shortness of breath
Sweating, tremors and twitches
Headaches, fatigue and insomnia
Upset stomach, frequent urination or diarrhea

Anxiety Disorders can include:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Specific Phobias
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Social Anxiety

Common Treatments

Talk Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Medications
Support Groups
Stress Management Techniques

When to see a doctor

You feel like you’re worrying too much and it’s interfering with your work, relationships or other parts of your life
Your fear, worry or anxiety is upsetting to you and difficult to control
You feel depressed, have trouble with alcohol or drug use, or have other mental health concerns along with anxiety
You think your anxiety could be linked to a physical health problem
You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors — if this is the case, seek emergency treatment immediately

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is exhibited by not being able to focus, being overactive, not being able to control behavior, or a combination of these. For these symptoms to be diagnosed as ADHD, they must be out of the normal range for a person’s age and development. The main symptoms include not being able to focus (inattention), being extremely active (hyperactivity), and difficulties controlling behavior (impulsivity).

Inattention

Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
Has difficulty keeping attention during tasks or play
Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish tasks
Has problems organizing tasks and activities
Avoids, or dislikes, tasks that require sustained mental effort
Often loses personal items or tools needed for tasks or activities
Is easily distracted, can often be forgetful in daily activities

Hyperactivity

Fidgets with hands or feet
Has difficulty sitting still or remaining seated
Runs around or climbs in inappropriate situations
Has difficulty performing activities or tasks quietly
Talks excessively

Impulsivity

Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
Has difficulty awaiting turn
Interrupts or intrudes on others

Common Treatments

Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Family therapy
Medication
Trainings
Education

When to see a doctor:

If any of the symptoms listed above continually disrupt your life, talk to your doctor about whether you might have ADHD.
Different types of health care professionals may diagnose and supervise treatment for ADHD. Seek a provider who has training and experience in caring for people with ADHD.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, ranging from extreme highs (mania or “manic” episodes) to lows (depression or “depressive” episode). A person who has bipolar disorder also experiences changes in their energy, thinking, behavior, and sleep. During bipolar mood episodes, it is difficult to carry out day-to-day tasks, go to work or school, and maintain relationships.

A “manic” episode may include:

Intense feelings of euphoria, excitement, or happiness
Appearing abnormally jumpy or wired
Having excessive energy
Insomnia or restlessness (a decreased need for sleep)
Speaking fast or being unusually talkative
Having racing or jumbled thoughts
Distractibility
Inflated self-esteem
Doing impulsive, uncharacteristic, or risky things like having unsafe sex or spending a lot of money
Increased agitation and irritability
Hypomania

A “depressive” episode may include:

Feeling down, sad, worried, worthless, anxious, guilty, empty, or hopeless
Lack of interest, or no interest, in activities
Feeling tired, low energy
Forgetfulness
Indecisiveness
Difficulty concentrating
Changes in sleep, either sleeping too much or too little
Changes in appetite, either eating too much or too little
Thoughts of death and/or suicide

Common Treatments:

Medications including mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and antidepressants
Therapy including “talk” therapy or psychotherapy to help recognize warning signs of an episode, develop coping skills and maintain a medication schedule
Intensive outpatient programs
Partial hospitalization

Several lifestyle habits, along with professional treatment, can help manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder. These include:

Keep a consistent sleep schedule
Eat well and get regular exercise
Always take your medication as prescribed
Keep a mood journal
Avoid using alcohol or drugs
Minimize stress
Maintain a support network of family and friends

When to see a doctor:

Despite their mood extremes, people with bipolar disorder often don’t know how much being emotionally unstable disrupts their lives and the lives of their loved ones. As a result, they don’t get the treatment they need. If you’re like some people with bipolar disorder, you may enjoy the feelings of euphoria and cycles of being more productive. But an emotional crash always follows this euphoria. This crash can leave you depressed and worn out. It could cause you to have problems getting along with others. It also could leave you in financial or legal trouble. If you have any symptoms of depression or mania, see your healthcare or mental health professional. Bipolar disorder doesn’t get better on its own. A mental health professional with experience in bipolar disorder can help you get your symptoms under control.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition in which a person has long-term patterns of unstable or explosive emotions. Persons with BPD are often uncertain about their identity. As a result, their interests and values can change rapidly. They tend to view things in terms of extremes, such as either all good or all bad. Their views of other people can change quickly, for example a person who is looked up to one day may be looked down on the next day. These suddenly shifting feelings often lead to intense and unstable relationships.

Common Symptoms

Intense fear of being abandoned
Cannot tolerate being alone
Frequent feelings of emptiness
Frequent displays of inappropriate anger
Impulsive and risky behavior, such as with substance misuse, gambling, binge eating, or sexual relationships
Repeated crises and acts of self-harm
Distorted sense of self
Depression
Substance use
Problems with work, family, and social relationships
Suicide attempts or self-harm

Common Treatments

Individual talk therapy
Group therapy
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Schema-focused therapy
Mentalization-based therapy (MBT)
Systems Traing for Emotional Predictability and Problem-Solving (STEPPS)
Transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP)
Medications to improve mood states and treat depression or other disorders that may occur

When to see a doctor

If you’re aware that you have any of the symptoms above, talk to your doctor or other regular healthcare professional or see a mental health professional. If you have fantasies or mental images about hurting yourself, or you have thoughts about suicide, get help right away by calling 988 or your local crisis line.

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living. More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out” of it.

Types of Depression:

Major Depressive Disorder
Persistent Depressive Disorder
Postpartum Depression
Psychotic Depression
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Bipolar Disorder

Common Symptoms

Continued feelings of sadness, hopelessness, pessimism, emptiness
Fatigue, lack of energy
Insomnia or other sleep issues, such as waking up very early or sleeping too much
Anxiety, irritability, restlessness
Feeling worthless or guilty
Lack of interest or joy in hobbies and activities
Changes in appetite, leading to weight loss or weight gain
Moving, talking, or thinking more slowly or feeling extra fidgety
Forgetfulness
Trouble concentrating, thinking clearly, or making decisions
Thoughts of not wanting to live, death or suicide, suicide attempts, or self-harm behaviors

Common Treatments

Medications such as antidepressants
Talk therapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Healthy lifestyle habits
Focus on self care
Set small, achievable goals
Know your warning signs
Educate family and friends
Seek support
Stick to your treatment plan

When to see a doctor

If you feel depressed, make an appointment to see your doctor or mental health professional as soon as you can. If you’re reluctant to seek treatment, talk to a friend or loved one, any health care professional, a faith leader, or someone else you trust.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious health conditions that affect both your physical and mental health. These conditions include problems in how you think about food, eating, weight and shape, and in your eating behaviors. These symptoms can affect your health, your emotions and your ability to function in important areas of life. Most eating disorders involve focusing too much on weight, body shape and food. This can lead to dangerous eating behaviors. These behaviors can seriously affect the ability to get the nutrition your body needs.

Eating Disorders have several different types, each with unique symptoms and presentations.

Common eating disorders include:

Anorexia
Bulimia
Binge-Eating disorder
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Common Treatments

Psychotherapy
Behavioral therapy including family-based treatment (FBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Medical care
Nutrition Counseling
Medications

When to see a doctor:

An eating disorder can be difficult to manage or overcome by yourself. The earlier you get treatment, the more likely you’ll make a full recovery. Sometimes people can have problem eating behaviors that are similar to some symptoms of an eating disorder, but the symptoms don’t meet the guidelines for a diagnosis of an eating disorder. But these problem eating behaviors can still seriously affect health and well-being. If you have problem eating behaviors that cause you distress or affect your life or health, or if you think you have an eating disorder, seek medical help.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s caused by an extremely stressful or terrifying event — either being part of it or witnessing it. Generally, PTSD symptoms are grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms can vary over time or vary from person to person.

Common Symptoms

Flashbacks, or feeling like the event is happening again
Trouble sleeping or nightmares
Feeling alone or detached from others
Losing interest in activities
Having angry outbursts or other extreme reactions
Feeling worried, guilty, or sad
Frightening thoughts
Having trouble concentrating
Having physical pain like headaches or stomach aches
Avoidance of memories, thoughts, or feelings about what closely associated with traumatic events
Problems remembering
Negative beliefs about self or others
Irritability
Feeling very vigilant
Startling easily

Common Treatments

Psychotherapy
Exposure therapy
Cognitive therapy
Medications

When to see a doctor

Most people who go through traumatic events may have a hard time adjusting and coping for a short time. But with time and by taking good care of themselves, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or years, and affect their ability to function daily, they may have PTSD and should seek professional support.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel and behave. It may result in a mix of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behavior. Hallucinations involve seeing things or hearing voices that aren’t observed by others. Delusions involve firm beliefs about things that are not true. Schizophrenia can be extremely disruptive to a person’s life, making it hard to go to school or work, keep a schedule, socialize, complete daily tasks, or take care of oneself. However, with consistent treatment—a combination of medication, therapy, and social support—people with schizophrenia can manage the disease and lead fulfilling lives.

Common Symptoms

False beliefs that cannot be changed, even when presented facts (delusions).
Seeing or hearing things that do not exist, such as a voice making commands (hallucinations).
The belief that others are reading or controlling their minds.
Disorganized thinking and speech, including shifting from one thought to the next without a logical connection, or speaking in sentences that do not make sense to others.
Difficulty speaking and expressing emotion, as well as problems with attention, memory, and organization.
Disorganized or abnormal physical behavior, including inappropriately, repetitive, or excessive or strange actions, or a complete lack of movement or talking.
A reduced ability to function normally, such as ignoring personal hygiene or not showing emotion.

Common Treatments

Psychiatrist with experience in treatin schizophrenia
Medications including antipsychotics to manage symptoms with the lowest possible dose
Psychosoical interventions such as talk therapy and support employment or rehabilitation

When to see a doctor

People with schizophrenia often don’t know that they have a mental condition that needs medical attention. As a result, family or friends often need to get them help. If people you know have symptoms of schizophrenia, talk to them about your concerns. While you can’t force them to seek help, you can offer encouragement and support. You also can help them find a healthcare professional or mental health professional. Some people may need an emergency stay in a hospital. Laws on mental health treatment against a person’s will vary by state. You can contact community mental health agencies or police departments in your area for details.

Substance Use Disorder

Substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you’re addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.

Common Symptoms

Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly — daily or even several times a day
Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts
Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect
Taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you intended
Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
Spending money on the drug, even though you can’t afford it
Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or recreational activities because of drug use
Continuing to use the drug, even though you know it’s causing problems in your life or causing you physical or psychological harm
Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn’t do, such as stealing
Driving or doing other risky activities when you’re under the influence of the drug
Spending a good deal of time getting the drug, using the drug or recovering from the effects of the drug
Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop taking the drug

Recognizing unhealthy substance use in family members or friends

Problems at school or work
Physical health issues
Neglected appearance
Changes in behavior
Money issues

Common Treatments

Treatment programs including outpatient, residential and inpatient settings
Withdrawal therapy
Behavior therapy
Self-help groups
Ongoing treatment to prevent relapse

When to see a doctor

If your drug use is out of control or causing problems, get help. The sooner you seek help, the greater your chances for a long-term recovery.
Talk with your health care provider or see a mental health provider, such as a doctor who specializes in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry, or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. If you’re not ready to approach a health care provider or mental health professional, help lines or hotlines may be a good place to learn about treatment. You can find these lines listed on the internet or in the phone book.

Make an appointment to see a provider if:

You can’t stop using a drug
You continue using the drug despite the harm it causes
Your drug use has led to unsafe behavior, such as sharing needles or unprotected sex
You think you may be having withdrawal symptoms after stopping drug use

Suicidal Ideation

Suicide, taking your own life, is a tragic reaction to stressful life situations — and all the more tragic because suicide can be prevented. Whether you’re considering suicide or know someone who feels suicidal, learn suicide warning signs and how to reach out for immediate help and professional treatment. You may save a life — your own or someone else’s. It may seem like there’s no way to solve your problems and that suicide is the only way to end the pain. But you can take steps to stay safe — and start enjoying your life again.

Suicide warning signs

Talking about suicide — for example, making statements such as “I’m going to kill myself,” “I wish I were dead” or “I wish I hadn’t been born”
Getting the means to take your own life, such as buying a gun or stockpiling pills
Withdrawing from social contact and wanting to be left alone
Having mood swings, such as being emotionally high one day and deeply discouraged the next
Being preoccupied with death, dying or violence
Feeling trapped or hopeless about a situation
Increasing use of alcohol or drugs
Changing normal routine, including eating or sleeping patterns
Doing risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving recklessly
Giving away belongings or getting affairs in order when there’s no other logical explanation for doing this
Saying goodbye to people as if they won’t be seen again
Developing personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated, particularly when experiencing some of the warning signs listed above

When to get help:
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by thoughts of not wanting to live or you’re having urges to attempt suicide, get help now.

If you’re feeling suicidal, but you aren’t immediately thinking of hurting yourself:

Reach out to a close friend or loved one — even though it may be hard to talk about your feelings
Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community
Call a suicide hotline | Get Support Here
Make an appointment with your doctor, other health care provider or a mental health professional

Common Treatments

Emergency treatment/hospitalization
Outpatient treatment
Psychotherapy
Medications
Addiction treatment
Family support and education