Do I have a Mental Illness?
Understanding Major Categories of Mental Health Disorders in the DSM-V
As people, we experience all kinds feelings and emotions leading to different thoughts and behaviors.
Often we are feeling a wide variety of things at the same time as life oscillates throughout the day. At any given point we are caught managing our day to day lives full of change, excitement, let downs, stress, less sleep, more sleep, less food/water, more food/water. Not to mention thoughts of the past and of our futures. Bottom line, there are so many variables at play. There may be a feeling that is most prominent or noticeable, and/or things are general and not acute, or standing out.
Many people do not understand when feelings or thoughts transition from being typical and manageable to being problematic. It is hard to know when you need support and what exactly this means.
Understanding Mental Health Labels
Over the next few weeks, our blogs will center on the main aspects of some of the primary categories of mental health problems commonly diagnosed in the United States and the world. We will identify what they are and give more information on what it looks like when common feelings become maladaptive and seem to stay that way for a given period of time.
What in the world is the DSM-V?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), is a vital tool used by mental health professionals to diagnose and classify mental health conditions. This comprehensive guide can help you understand the various mental health disorders and recognize when it might be time to seek help.
Navigating the world of mental health can feel overwhelming, but knowing about different types of mental health disorders can help you or a loved one get the support needed. Here’s a simple breakdown of the major categories based on the DSM-V, designed to make understanding mental health a bit easier.
1. Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive fear and anxiety that interfere with daily activities. Anxiety is something everyone experiences from time to time—nerves before a big presentation or stress about a major life decision. While it's normal to experience anxiety in response to stress, anxiety disorders involve persistent and overwhelming worry.
They are many disorders that fall within anxiety disorders. Understanding when anxiety or stress become something to seek help for is important, as every single person experiences anxiety and stress in some way. Here’s a look at some common anxiety disorders and what you should know about them.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
What It Is: We all worry about things like our jobs or health from time to time, and that’s normal. However, if you find yourself worrying about multiple aspects of your life—like work, finances, or health—so much that it’s affecting your daily routine, and these worries last for six months or more, it might be GAD.
GAD isn’t just about occasional stress; it’s about constant, overwhelming worry that feels impossible to control. This persistent anxiety can make even everyday tasks seem daunting and impact your quality of life.
When to Seek Help: If your anxiety feels unmanageable and it’s affecting your daily life, it’s important to reach out for support. A mental health professional can offer strategies and support to help you cope.
Did You Know? Approximately 3.1% of people in the U.S. experience GAD each year.
Panic Disorder
What It Is: We all experience fear in genuinely dangerous situations, but panic disorder involves unexpected and intense panic attacks that can happen without warning. These attacks are often accompanied by severe physical symptoms, like a racing heart, shortness of breath, or dizziness.
Panic attacks can be incredibly frightening and disruptive, leading to a constant fear of future attacks. This ongoing anxiety can limit your activities and make you feel isolated.
When to Seek Help: If you’re experiencing recurrent panic attacks that are causing significant distress or fear, it’s a good idea to consult a mental health professional. They can help you understand and manage these attacks more effectively.
Did You Know? About 2.7% of the U.S. population experiences panic disorder annually.
Social Anxiety Disorder
What It Is: It’s normal to feel a bit nervous before speaking in public or attending a social event. However, social anxiety disorder involves an intense fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations. This fear can be so overwhelming that it leads to avoiding these situations altogether.
This kind of anxiety can seriously impact your social life and personal relationships, making it hard to enjoy activities you once liked or to engage with others.
When to Seek Help: If you find yourself avoiding social situations because of intense fear and it’s affecting your daily life, it’s time to seek help. Therapists can work with you to build confidence and develop coping strategies.
Did You Know? Social anxiety disorder affects approximately 7.1% of people in the U.S. each year.
2. Mood Disorders
Mental health conditions can affect our mood in various ways. Some people experience extreme highs and lows, while others struggle with persistent sadness or anxiety. Understanding these conditions can help you recognize when it might be time to seek support. Here’s a closer look at some common mood and related disorders.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
What It Is: Feeling down or sad after a tough experience, like a breakup or losing a loved one, is something we all go through. But when these feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and disinterest in activities last for two weeks or more, it could be a sign of major depressive disorder.
MDD isn’t just about feeling a bit off; it’s about persistent and intense sadness that can affect your daily life and relationships. It’s like a cloud that doesn’t seem to lift, no matter what you do.
When to Seek Help: If you’re feeling overwhelmed by sadness or losing interest in things you once enjoyed for an extended period, it’s crucial to reach out for support. A mental health professional can help you navigate these feelings and find ways to manage them.
Did You Know? About 6.7% of adults in the U.S. experience major depressive disorder each year.
Bipolar Disorder
What It Is: We all have mood swings from time to time, but bipolar disorder involves significant highs (mania) and lows (depression) that can impact your daily life. During manic phases, you might feel unusually energetic, overly optimistic, or impulsive. In depressive phases, you might feel extremely sad or hopeless.
The extreme mood swings in bipolar disorder can disrupt your daily functioning and relationships, making it difficult to maintain a stable routine or work effectively.
When to Seek Help: If you’re experiencing extreme mood swings that affect your daily life, seeking help from a mental health professional can provide strategies and support to manage your symptoms.
Did You Know? Bipolar disorder affects about 2.8% of U.S. adults annually.
3. Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
Traumatic events can leave lasting emotional marks. If you’re feeling persistently distressed or overwhelmed by memories of a traumatic experience, you might be dealing with a trauma-related disorder. These disorders result from exposure to traumatic or stressful events and can cause significant emotional and psychological distress.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What It Is: Feeling upset or anxious after a traumatic event is natural. But if you’re experiencing ongoing anxiety, flashbacks, or intrusive thoughts related to the trauma that persist for more than a month, it could be PTSD.
PTSD can significantly impact your ability to function daily, causing distressing symptoms that make it hard to move past the trauma.
When to Seek Help: If you find yourself constantly reliving traumatic events or feeling overwhelmed by your emotions, professional help can offer ways to process and manage these experiences.
Did You Know? PTSD affects about 3.6% of the U.S. adult population each year.
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)
What It Is: Like PTSD, ASD occurs after a traumatic event but lasts for less than a month. It involves similar symptoms to PTSD, such as intense stress and intrusive thoughts.
While ASD can be distressing, early intervention can help prevent it from developing into PTSD.
When to Seek Help: If you’re feeling extremely stressed or shocked after a traumatic event and these feelings don’t go away quickly, reaching out for support can help address these symptoms early on.
Did You Know? ASD affects about 7-28% of people exposed to a traumatic event.
4. Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
These disorders are characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that can interfere with daily life.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
What It Is: Everyone checks things occasionally, like making sure the door is locked. But with OCD, these behaviors become excessive and are driven by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive actions (compulsions).
OCD can make daily tasks feel overwhelming and can significantly interfere with your ability to live comfortably and efficiently.
When to Seek Help: If your obsessions and compulsions are taking up a lot of your time and affecting your daily life, it’s important to get professional help to manage these symptoms effectively.
Did You Know? OCD affects about 1.2% of the U.S. population each year.
5. Eating Disorders
Eating disorders involve unhealthy preoccupations with food, weight, and body shape.
Anorexia Nervosa
What It Is: Being cautious about eating and exercising is normal, but anorexia involves severe restriction of food intake, extreme weight loss, and an intense fear of gaining weight.
This disorder can lead to serious health issues and a distorted view of body image, making it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
When to Seek Help: If you’re severely restricting food intake and have a fear of gaining weight, seeking support from a mental health professional can help address these behaviors and promote recovery.
Did You Know? Anorexia nervosa affects approximately 0.6% of the U.S. population in their lifetime.
Bulimia Nervosa
What It Is: It’s normal to occasionally eat more than planned, but bulimia involves binge eating followed by purging behaviors, such as vomiting or using laxatives, to avoid weight gain.
This cycle of binging and purging can be harmful to your body and mind, leading to serious health complications and emotional distress.
When to Seek Help: If you’re engaging in binge eating followed by purging and it’s affecting your health and well-being, professional support can help you address these behaviors.
Did You Know? Bulimia nervosa affects about 1% of the U.S. population in their lifetime.
Binge-Eating Disorder
What It Is: Overeating on occasion is common, but binge-eating disorder involves regularly consuming large quantities of food without purging, often leading to significant distress.
This disorder can lead to health issues and emotional distress, affecting your overall well-being and quality of life.
When to Seek Help: If you’re experiencing recurrent episodes of binge eating and it’s causing you distress, seeking help from a mental health professional can offer strategies to manage and improve your eating habits.
Did You Know? Binge-eating disorder affects about 2.8% of U.S. adults annually.
6. Personality Disorders
Personality disorders involve long-standing patterns of behavior and thought that differ from what’s considered typical or expected.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
What It Is: Everyone experiences mood swings and relationship issues, but BPD involves intense instability in emotions, relationships, and self-image, leading to impulsive behavior and intense emotional responses.
BPD can make it difficult to maintain stable relationships and a consistent sense of self, affecting your overall functioning and well-being.
When to Seek Help: If you’re struggling with intense mood swings and unstable relationships, professional help can provide support and strategies to manage BPD effectively.
Did You Know? BPD affects about 1.6% of the U.S. population.
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
What It Is: While it’s normal to occasionally break rules, ASPD involves a consistent disregard for others’ rights, lack of empathy, and violating social norms.
This disorder can lead to significant issues in relationships and social functioning, requiring specialized support to address.
When to Seek Help: If you’re finding it challenging to empathize with others and adhere to social norms, professional help can offer guidance on managing these behaviors.
Did You Know? ASPD affects about 1% of the U.S. population.
7. Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
These disorders involve significant distortions in thinking, perception, and functioning.
Schizophrenia
What It Is: Having unusual thoughts occasionally can be normal, but schizophrenia involves persistent delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and impaired functioning that lasts for at least six months.
Schizophrenia can profoundly impact your ability to function in daily life and maintain relationships, requiring comprehensive treatment and support.
When to Seek Help: If you’re experiencing severe distortions in perception and thinking that interfere with your ability to function, seeking help from a mental health professional is crucial for effective management.
Did You Know? Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the U.S. population.
8. Neurodevelopmental Disorders
These disorders manifest early in development and can affect intellectual and developmental abilities.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
What It Is: Variability in social skills and communication is common, but ASD involves challenges with social interactions, communication, and repetitive behaviors that impact daily functioning.
ASD can affect various aspects of life, requiring tailored support to help individuals navigate their unique challenges and strengths.
When to Seek Help: If you or a loved one is experiencing significant challenges with social interactions and communication, early intervention can make a substantial difference in managing ASD effectively.
Did You Know? ASD affects about 1 in 54 children in the U.S.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
What It Is: Occasional difficulty focusing or sitting still is common, but ADHD involves persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interferes with daily life.
ADHD can impact academic performance, relationships, and overall quality of life, making it important to seek appropriate support and management strategies.
When to Seek Help: If inattention and hyperactivity are significantly impacting your life or the life of a child, professional support can help develop strategies to manage symptoms effectively.
Did You Know? ADHD affects about 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults in the U.S.
Understanding the major categories of mental health disorders in the DSM-V can empower you to recognize when it might be time to seek help.
Whether you're dealing with anxiety, mood disorders, trauma-related issues, or any other mental health condition, early intervention and professional support can make a significant difference.
“Recovery is possible. Asking for help is the first step.” - Portia de Rossi
If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to a mental health professional like Phases Virginia for guidance and support.
Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. You're not alone, and there are resources available to help you navigate your mental health journey.