Depressive disorders are closely related mental health conditions that cause depressive symptoms. There are multiple contributing factors or circumstances that lead to the development of depression, as opposed to a singular cause. Some of the most common types of depression include major depressive disorder, substance/medication-induced depressive disorder, peripartum depression, and…
Though both narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and being narcissistic are centered around self-infatuation, there are crucial differences in severity, pervasiveness, and duration. NPD is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance; these people often lose friends and family due to their self-obsession but are able to replace them quickly due…
Depression can be unipolar or bipolar, induced by psychosocial stressors or medication, characterized by time or features, and much more. Different types of depression demand different treatment protocols, so it can be critical to know what type you have. Symptom commonalities include intense, prolonged bouts of sadness and anhedonia (loss…
Depression is a common but serious mental health condition that affects around 8% of Americans annually. Depression causes fatigue, sadness, apathy, decreased interest in social activities, chronic pain, weight loss/gain, and more. Depression is a common term for a set of closely related depressive disorders, which share similar symptoms, but…
Illness anxiety disorder (also known as hypochondria) is a mental health condition in which sufferers frequently become convinced or seriously concerned that they have a serious illness or medical emergency. The mental and emotional effects of hypochondria include an intense, irrational fear about becoming ill or injured, a need for…
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected panic attacks. Most panic attack symptoms are physical, involving cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and vestibular systems. Panic disorder results in more medical visits than any other anxiety disorder. CBT and mindfulness interventions are the best treatments for panic disorder. Imagine that you’re…
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most well-known of the seven depressive disorders in the DSM-5. To be diagnosed with clinical depression, you must suffer from a depressed mood and/or a loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia) for at least two weeks, most of the day, nearly every day. Differential…
Grief is a normal human response to the pain of losing someone. It can be brutal, anguished, disorienting, maddening, enraging, and lonely. But ultimately, people do emerge from grief. They may feel forever changed; however, they do find meaning in their lives again. Those difficult feelings eventually make way for…
Becoming a little preoccupied with imperfections in our physical appearance is normal. But when we start losing the ability to accept our flaws, body dysmorphic disorder can develop. Common signs of body dysmorphic disorder include constantly scanning one’s reflection for flaws, obsessively grooming, taking selfies, and getting excessive cosmetic surgeries….
Separation anxiety is a state of mind characterized by distress as a result of being apart from loved ones or worrying about being separated from them. Adults, teens, and children can all experience separation anxiety–and when this state of mind becomes persistent, a mental health evaluation may classify it as…
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental disorder characterized by impaired functioning, serious personality changes, and emotional lability People with this condition typically struggle to maintain stable relationships and self-image. BPD is associated with numerous other psychiatric conditions, including depression, substance use disorder, and anxiety disorders. Environmental and social factors…
According to a 2022 report from the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, nearly 10 million people over the age of 18 in the United States have substance use disorder (SUD). That’s almost 4% of the entire population. Yet, despite the prevalence of addiction, a profound stigma surrounding addiction persists,…