6 Most Common Mental Health Disorders

Rebecca Lewis April 25, 2014

Despite the massive efforts from experts and researchers to educate the public about the real nature of mental health disorders, they still come with a stigma. Many people think that mentally ill people are those who are literally ‘out of their mind’ and should be avoided. Because of this, more and more people with mental health problems refuse to seek treatments, some won’t even attempt to get diagnosed.

The reality is that every one of us has experienced mental health issues at least once in our lifetime. It’s just that too often, we don’t realise they exist. In fact, according to Mental Health Foundation, 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year.

Here’s a list of the mental health disorders that affect many people.

Anxiety Issues

Anxiety issues make up the most common group of mental health issues in the US, UK and some other countries. Such conditions include posttraumatic stress, generalised anxiety, panic, social phobia and obsessive compulsion. According to Mental Health Foundation, about 9 per cent of people in Britain meet the criteria for the diagnosis of anxiety disorder. It is normal to feel anxious during difficult times, such as when preparing for an exam or job interview. But if your anxiety continues to overwhelm you and already interferes with your daily activities, it could be a form of anxiety disorder.

Depression

This serious mental health problem affects one in 5 older people. In 2012, an analysis by the NHS found that the number of people in Britain with depression increased by nearly half a million in three years. Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy for a few days. We all go through spells of feeling down. But this mental health disorder is persistent and comes with both physical and mental symptoms. According to NHS, physical symptoms of depression include feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and complaining of various aches and pains.

Substance Abuse

Substance abuse can lead to addition, which has both physical and mental consequences. Many people try to cope with their personal problems by resorting to alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. Whilst substance abuse is considered a mental health problem, often, it is actually a result of a more serious issue.

Schizophrenia

This mental health disorder often occurs by age 16 to 30, and affects men and women equally. It is a serious mental illness that can cause people to have delusions, hallucinate or show no emotion at all. It strikes men and women equally.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is one of several mood disorders that leave people with emotions swinging from abnormally high (manic) to dangerously low (depressive). Such extremes are so severe that they can damage relationships, result in poor performance in school or work and possibly lead to suicide. Most people with bipolar disorder are diagnosed by age 25, and it is not easy to spot.

Phobias

We all have fears and that’s normal and probably even healthy. But people who suffer from phobia have fears so severe that their day to day activities are already affected. There are many forms of phobia and among the most common are social phobia and specific phobia (irrational fear of specific objects like water, spiders, snakes, etc.

If you or someone you know suffers from mental health issue, the best thing to do is to approach a health professional. Remember that with the right treatment and support, most people can make a full recovery from most mental health disorders.