Guide To Mental Disorders
Mental health is an integral part of our overall well-being, yet millions of people worldwide struggle with mental health conditions that can significantly impact their daily lives, relationships, and ability to function.
Understanding mental disorders is the first step toward breaking down stigma, seeking appropriate help, and supporting those who need it most.
What Are Mental Disorders?
Mental disorders, also known as mental health conditions or psychiatric disorders, are conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, behavior, or mood. These conditions significantly impact how an individual functions in their daily life, affecting their ability to relate to others, work, study, and handle everyday activities.
Mental disorders are not character flaws, personal weaknesses, or something that can be overcome through willpower alone.
They are legitimate medical conditions with biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to their development. Just as physical illnesses require medical attention, mental disorders require professional treatment and support.
These conditions can range from mild to severe and may be temporary or long-lasting. They affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life. Mental disorders can develop due to various factors including genetics, brain chemistry, trauma, stress, substance use, and environmental influences.
It’s important to understand that having a mental disorder doesn’t define a person’s worth or potential. With proper treatment, support, and self-care, individuals with mental health conditions can lead fulfilling, productive lives.
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The Meadowglade is an industry leader in mental health treatment. Our team of top medical experts specialize in dual diagnosis treatment and are committed to ensuring that each patient is treated as an individual. Call us today, we’re available 24/7.
What Types of Mental Disorders Are There?
Mental health professionals use standardized diagnostic criteria to identify and classify mental disorders.
The primary reference used in the United States is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), currently in its fifth edition (DSM-5-TR). This manual provides detailed descriptions of symptoms, criteria, and diagnostic guidelines for mental health conditions.
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are characterized by significant disturbances in a person’s emotional state that interfere with their ability to function normally. These disorders involve periods of depression, mania, or both, and can dramatically affect a person’s energy, activity levels, and overall quality of life.
The most common mood disorder, characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. Symptoms include changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and in severe cases, thoughts of death or suicide.
A condition marked by extreme mood swings between depressive episodes and manic or hypomanic episodes. During manic phases, individuals may experience elevated mood, increased energy, decreased need for sleep, racing thoughts, and impulsive behavior.
A chronic form of depression lasting at least two years, with symptoms that are less severe than major depression but more persistent and long-lasting.
A milder form of bipolar disorder involving chronic mood fluctuations between hypomanic and depressive symptoms that don’t meet the full criteria for major episodes.
A type of depression that occurs at specific times of the year, typically during fall and winter months when daylight hours are reduced.
A serious form of depression that can occur after childbirth, characterized by severe mood changes, anxiety, and exhaustion that interfere with daily functioning and caring for the baby.
Trauma Disorders
Trauma disorders develop following exposure to or witnessing traumatic events. These conditions involve the brain’s response to overwhelming experiences and can significantly impact a person’s sense of safety, trust, and ability to function normally.
Develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as combat, assault, accidents, or natural disasters. Symptoms include intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance behaviors, negative changes in thinking and mood, and alterations in physical and emotional reactions.
Similar to PTSD but occurs immediately after a traumatic event and lasts between three days to one month. Symptoms include dissociation, re-experiencing the trauma, avoidance, and marked anxiety or arousal.
Results from prolonged, repeated trauma, often occurring in childhood. It includes PTSD symptoms plus additional difficulties with emotional regulation, self-concept, and interpersonal relationships.
Occur when a person has difficulty coping with a stressful life event or change, resulting in emotional or behavioral symptoms that are out of proportion to the stressor.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders involve excessive fear, worry, and related behavioral disturbances that significantly impair daily functioning.
While anxiety is a normal human emotion, anxiety disorders involve persistent, intense anxiety that is disproportionate to the actual threat or situation.
Characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life, including work, health, family, and finances. Physical symptoms may include restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.
Involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by persistent concern about having additional attacks. Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, and feelings of impending doom.
Intense fear of social situations where the person might be scrutinized by others. This fear can significantly impair social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning.
Irrational, excessive fear of specific objects or situations such as heights, animals, flying, or medical procedures. The fear is disproportionate to the actual danger posed.
Fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable during a panic attack. This often leads to avoidance of public places, crowds, or traveling.
Excessive fear or anxiety about separation from attachment figures, most commonly seen in children but can occur in adults as well.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders involve enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that deviate significantly from cultural expectations and cause distress or impairment in functioning. These patterns are typically stable over time and affect multiple areas of life.
Characterized by instability in relationships, self-image, and emotions, along with impulsivity. Individuals may experience intense fear of abandonment, identity disturbances, and difficulty regulating emotions.
Involves a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy. Individuals may have an inflated sense of self-importance and believe they are superior to others.
Characterized by a disregard for and violation of the rights of others, occurring since age 15. This may include deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggression, and lack of remorse.
Involves social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation. Individuals may avoid social situations due to fear of criticism or rejection.
Characterized by excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior and fear of separation.
Involves preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control at the expense of flexibility and efficiency.
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are characterized by abnormalities in one or more of the following areas: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, abnormal motor behavior, and negative symptoms.
These disorders significantly impact a person’s ability to function normally.
A chronic mental disorder involving delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, abnormal motor behavior, and negative symptoms such as diminished emotional expression. Symptoms must be present for at least six months and significantly impair functioning.
Involves sudden onset of psychotic symptoms lasting at least one day but less than one month, with eventual return to normal functioning. Symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, or abnormal motor behavior.
Similar to schizophrenia but with a duration of symptoms between one and six months. If symptoms persist beyond six months, the diagnosis may be changed to schizophrenia.
Combines features of schizophrenia with major mood episodes. Individuals experience periods of psychosis along with significant mood symptoms such as depression or mania.
Characterized by one or more delusions for at least one month, with relatively intact functioning in other areas of life. The delusions are not bizarre and could conceivably occur in real life.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions characterized by abnormal eating behaviors and distorted attitudes toward food, weight, and body image. These disorders can have severe physical and psychological consequences if left untreated.
Characterized by restriction of food intake leading to significantly low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and distorted body image. Individuals may see themselves as overweight even when underweight.
Involves recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise. Unlike anorexia, individuals typically maintain a normal weight.
The most common eating disorder, characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food quickly while feeling out of control, without regular compensatory behaviors.
Involves eating non-food substances regularly for at least one month, which is inappropriate for developmental level and not part of a culturally sanctioned practice.
Characterized by repeated regurgitation of food that is re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out, occurring for at least one month.
Involves avoiding or restricting food intake resulting in significant weight loss, nutritional deficiency, or interference with psychosocial functioning.
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How Common Are Mental Disorders?
Mental disorders are incredibly common, affecting millions of people worldwide regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status.
According to the World Health Organization and national health surveys, approximately one in four people will experience a mental health condition at some point in their lives.
In the United States alone, nearly 50 million adults experience mental illness each year, representing about 20% of the adult population. Among adolescents, the prevalence is even higher, with approximately 32% of teens experiencing an anxiety disorder and 13% experiencing a major depressive episode.
The Commonality of Mental Disorders: They Can All Be Treated
One of the most important messages about mental health is that mental disorders are treatable conditions.
Regardless of the specific diagnosis or severity of symptoms, effective therapies treatments are available that can help individuals manage their conditions, reduce symptoms, and improve their quality of life.
Treatment approaches vary depending on the specific disorder and individual needs, but commonly include psychotherapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and support services. Many people benefit from a combination of treatments tailored to their unique circumstances.
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, has proven effective for virtually all mental health conditions. Different therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and trauma-focused therapy, can help individuals develop coping strategies, process difficult experiences, and change harmful thought patterns.
Medications can be highly effective for many mental health conditions, particularly mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and psychotic disorders. Modern psychiatric medications are generally safe and well-tolerated when prescribed and monitored by qualified healthcare professionals.
Recovery is possible, and many people with mental health conditions go on to lead fulfilling, productive lives. Treatment success varies from person to person, but with proper care, support, and commitment to treatment, significant improvement is achievable for the vast majority of individuals.
The Stigma of Mental Disorders
Despite the prevalence and treatability of mental health conditions, stigma remains one of the greatest barriers to seeking help. Stigma involves negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward people with mental health conditions, often leading to discrimination, social isolation, and reluctance to seek treatment.
Mental health stigma manifests in various ways, including stereotypes that people with mental illness are dangerous, weak, or at fault for their condition. These misconceptions can prevent individuals from accessing care, maintaining employment, or forming meaningful relationships.
Self-stigma occurs when individuals internalize negative attitudes about mental illness, leading to shame, reduced self-esteem, and reluctance to seek help. This internal stigma can be just as damaging as external discrimination.
Combating stigma requires education, open conversations about mental health, and sharing stories of recovery and resilience. When we understand that mental health conditions are medical conditions like any other, we can approach them with compassion and support rather than judgment.
Find Help For Mental Disorders Today
At The Meadowglade, our team of compassionate and experienced mental health professionals is dedicated to providing comprehensive mental health treatment in Los Angeles. Our multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to offer personalized care tailored to each individual’s needs.
Call us now at 888-272-2062 or verify your insurance.
Mental Health Programs
Yj Kim, MD
Psychiatrist
Haroon Burhanullah, MD
Psychiatrist
Narine Babikian, MHA
Executive Director
