| Depression.
A common illness, and not just a mood. Signs may include feelings
of sadness, anxiety; loss of appetite, energy, or desire;
pessimism, emptiness, and thoughts of death or suicide.
Anxiety Disorders.
These cause a high level of anxiety and panic.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
This is linked to a traumatic event (war, torture, rape,
kidnapping, natural disaster, airplane crash, etc.) that overwhelms
your natural ability to cope. Signs may include recurring
episodes of panic, terror, or despair that are felt in daytime
fantasies, nightmares, or flashbacks.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
This involves depression-like symptoms that occur during periods
of the year with little sunshine. Light therapy is an effective
treatment.
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Addiction.
This involves the regular misuse of alcohol, illegal drugs,
or prescription medicines that interferes with everyday activities
and that creates a growing need for, and dependence on, the
drug.
Eating Disorders.
Some involve eating too little (like anorexia); eating too
much (binge eating disorder); or purging food (forced vomiting,
excessive exercise) after it has been eaten. They are often
linked to depression and can result in serious health problems
or death.
Schizophrenia.
This disease may cause one or many psychotic episodes. These
involve hallucinations, losing a sense of reality, living
in another reality, delusions, disordered thinking, extreme
emotions, or other behavior not normal for that person. There
is no known cure, but there are many treatments. |
