Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses in America; over 21% of adults (42.5 million) are affected by these debilitating illnesses each year.
Most people experience feelings of anxiety before an important event such as a big exam, business presentation or first date. Anxiety disorders, however, are illnesses that cause people to feel frightened, distressed and uneasy for no apparent reason. Left untreated, these disorders can dramatically reduce productivity and significantly diminish an individual's quality of life.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by extreme highs and lows in mood and energy. While everyone experiences ups and downs, the severe shifts that happen in bipolar disorder can have a serious impact on a person’s life. More than 3.3 million American adults (1.7%) suffer from bipolar disorder in a given year.
Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting 6.7% (more than 16 million) of American adults each year. Depression can occur to anyone, at any age, and to people of any race or ethnic group. Depression is never a "normal" part of life, no matter what your age, gender or health situation. It causes people to lose pleasure from daily life, can complicate other medical conditions, and can even be serious enough to lead to suicide.
PTSD affects over 14 million American adults (4.4% of the adult population) in any given year. If you have gone through a traumatic experience, it is normal to feel lots of emotions, such as distress, fear, helplessness, guilt, shame or anger. You may start to feel better after days or weeks, but sometimes, these feelings don’t go away. PTSD is a real problem and can happen at any age. If you have PTSD, you are not alone.
One frequently cited statistic is that 1% of the population is diagnosed with Schizophrenia in their lifetime, but actually 3.5% of the population experiences psychosis. Psychosis is a general term to describe a set of symptoms of mental illnesses that result in strange or bizarre thinking, perceptions (sight, sound), behaviors, and emotions. Psychosis is a brain-based condition that is made better or worse by environmental factors - like drug use and stress.
Mental Illness List
All information is sourced via Mental Health America Website.
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
What is mental illness?
A mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought and/or behavior. This results in a person not being able to cope with life's ordinary demands and routines.
There are more than 200 forms of mental illness. Some common forms of mental illness include depression, narcissistic personality disorder, anxiety, co-dependency, eating disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, and more. Symptoms can include changes in mood, personality, personal habits, and social withdrawal.
Excessive stress is commonly related to mental health problems. A particular situation, series of events or even daily repetition that causes stress can cause mental health issues. As with cancer, diabetes and heart disease, mental illnesses are often physical as well as emotional and psychological. Reactions to environmental stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, or a combination can be the cause of mental illness. With proper care and treatment many people learn to cope or recover from mental illness.
A person's overall wellness can be an indication of mental illness. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly is key to ensuring you are setting yourself up for success mentally. Below you will find a list of mental health conditions with links to more resources. It's important to remember that mental health professionals are available to help. You can also visit our in-person or online support groups to seek help if you are not ready to talk to a professional.