Mental health conditions – What you should know
Millions of people live with different types of mental illnesses and health problems. These include obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and personality disorders. All of these come under the umbrella of mental health. In this article, we will cover the symptoms, causes, and risk factors of some common mental health disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and clinical depression to help you understand them better.
Symptoms
The common symptoms of mental health disorders include:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
People with OCD may present the following symptoms:
- Constant fear of contamination and extra emphasis on cleanliness
- Signs of hoarding and counting belongings continuously
- Signs of excessive concern toward personal safety
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Somebody suffering from PTSD may show the following symptoms:
- Constantly suffering through intrusive memories
- Negative patterns in mood and mindset
- Trying to avoid thinking of the traumatic event
- Feeling changes in emotional and physical reactions
Clinical depression
The symptoms of clinical depression include:
- Being moody and experiencing different emotions, such as aggressiveness, anxiousness, and restlessness
- Adverse effect on sexual life
- A decline of cognitive abilities
- Poor sleep patterns
If you notice any of these symptoms, we recommend consulting with a mental health doctor immediately.
Causes
The common causes of any mental health disorder include the following:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Some common causes for obsessive-compulsive disorder include:
- Severe trauma
- Behavioral factors, such as being extremely organized, meticulous, and neat
Post-traumatic stress disorder
The causes for PTSD include the following:
- Stressful experiences and traumatic events
- Inheriting disorders from family members
- Imbalance in regulation of bodily hormones and chemicals
Clinical depression
The causes associated with clinical depression include:
- Early childhood trauma
- Drug abuse
- Different medical conditions, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and chronic pain
Risk factors
The risk factors associated with the following mental health disorders include:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Some risk factors associated with OCD include: