Understanding Different Mental Health Disorders: Reducing Stigma and Increasing Awareness

Understanding mental health disorders is crucial for promoting mental well-being, destigmatizing mental health conditions, and increasing overall awareness. Additionally, it can help support those who are living with mental health disorders. There are a vast array of symptoms and causes that result in mental health disorders. To increase the knowledge and spread awareness, TheraVault LLC has created a list of common mental health disorders classifications with a brief overview of symptoms, causation, and possible treatment options.

Depressive Disorders include major depressive disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. This classification features persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, emptiness, and irritability. Some individuals even experience a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. Compounded on one another, these symptoms can have a significant effect on one’s capacity to function, leading to physical and emotional symptoms such as changes in sleep and appetite, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. If you are someone you know are exhibiting symptoms of a depressive disorder, there are plenty of treatment options which include medication, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Anxiety Disorders include conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. Commonly reported symptoms of anxiety disorders include an emotional response to real or perceived threats and anticipation of future threats. The feelings of fear and anxiety associated with this classification of disorders result in social and behavioral impairments and significant distress. Treatment options for anxiety disorders include a combination of medication and therapy. Therapeutic techniques that are commonly used to treat anxiety disorders include Internal Family Systems Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure Therapy.

Bipolar and Related Disorders include cyclothymic disorder and bipolar I and II disorders. The conditions are characterized by cycles of manic (elevated mood, increased energy) and depressive episodes which result in mood instabilities. These symptoms sometimes make it difficult for individuals to regulate their emotions and behaviors. To manage symptoms of conditions in these classifications, it will be important to find a combination of therapy and medication. Therapy options that are commonly used to assist individuals with bipolar and related disorders include Interpersonal Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders is a unique classification of mental health conditions. Some diagnoses that are housed in this classification include schizophrenia, schizotypal disorder, brief psychotic disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. These disorders are characterized by abnormalities in one or more related to thinking, speech, emotional regulation, and behavior. Those with a mental health condition within this classification may experience hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and impaired social and occupational functioning. To manage the symptoms of schizophrenia and related disorders, it is recommended that individuals attend therapy and take medication. Therapy options that are commonly used with this mental health condition includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Additional support can be provided to those who support individuals with schizophrenia and related disorders.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Related Disorders is a classification of mental health disorders that are characterized by obsession and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, urges, or images that are persistent and reoccurring. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that an individual is compelled to do as a result of an obsession or according to a set of rules that must be followed. In many cases, individuals are driven to partake in their compulsions to reduce distress or prevent a feared event. This classification of disorders includes body obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania (hair-pulling) disorder, and excoriation (skin-picking) disorder. Treatment options for obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders include a combination of medication and therapy. Research supports Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as appropriate approaches to assist individuals. 

Trauma- and stressor-related disorders include posttraumatic stress disorder, social engagement disorder, acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and prolonged grief disorder. Each disorder within this classification is a result of a traumatic or stressful event. A traumatic and stressful event are defined as first or secondhand exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Symptoms that have been reported by individuals with trauma- and stressor-related disorders include flashbacks, nightmares, hyperarousal, and avoidance of reminders of the traumatic or stressful event. Treatment options for this classification of disorders includes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, and Written Exposure Therapy. Medication can also be utilized if it is deemed necessary by a psychiatrist.

Feeding and eating disorders include conditions such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. These conditions are characterized by ongoing disturbance of eating or eating-related behavior that interferes with an individual's physical health or psychosocial functioning. Feeding and eating disorders can have serious physical and psychological consequences. To address these health concerns, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy can be used to treat feeding and eating disorders.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders include diagnosis such as autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. While there is a wide variety of conditions that are included within this classification, it is important to note that neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by developmental deficits or divergence in brain processes. These characteristics lead to impairments of personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning. Each condition in this classification has a wide spectrum of severity. If you or someone you know may be living with a neurodevelopmental disorder, it is imperative to seek appropriate treatment. Depending on the severity of the neurodevelopmental disorder, treatment options can include taking medication, psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and play therapy. Additional support is available to those who support individuals living with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Substance Use Disorders refer to clusters of diagnoses that are characterized by cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms that result in risky usage of a substance, improperly abiding to recommended dosage, social impairments, and inability to control usage. While all substances have the potential to result in a substance use disorder, the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder specifically mentions classes of substance. These classes include alcohol, caffeine, cannabis, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, sedatives, hypnotics, anxiolytics, stimulants, and tobacco. Treatment for individuals who have a substance use disorder can vary. There are in- and out-patient facilities that support individuals' road to recovery. In the facilities, medication and talk therapy often work hand and hand to yield the best result. Specific forms of therapy that are used in assisting people with a substance use disorder include Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and Hypnotherapy.

Personality disorders are characterized by enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience that deviate from cultural norms and expectations. These behaviors are pervasive and inflexible and lead to distress or impairment. A person who presents with a personality disorder first experiences symptoms beginning in adolescence or early adulthood. Borderline, paranoid, schizoid, antisocial, narcissistic, and avoidant personality disorder are a few examples of mental health conditions that meet the criteria for personality disorders. Therapeutic options to support individuals with personality disorders includes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Cognitive Analytical Therapy. Research has also supported the use of medication to be taken in conjunction with attending therapy.

Having an understanding of mental health disorders is a start to raising awareness and decreasing stigma. Whether it is you or a loved one who has a mental health concern, there are people who want to support you in your journey. Early intervention and seeking help when needed can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with mental health disorders. When meeting with a mental health professional, it is important to collaborate to create a treatment plan that best aligns with your goals. Lastly, it is important to note that mental health concerns are not isolated to one classification. Instead mental health disorders can co-occur or share common risk factors.

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