A complete overview of bipolar disorder
Mental Health

A complete overview of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. It is a brain disorder which causes extreme fluctuations in moods. People with this disorder can feel very high and euphoric. The energy levels, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks are highly incompatible, impulsive and random. This illness can destroy relationships and damage career prospects. It also affects academic performance and also leads to suicide. How does bipolar disorder occur? Bipolar disorder is categorized by alternating occurrences of: Mania : This is the state in which a person is in an extremely euphoric state and is highly active and energetic. Major depression : This state includes extreme hopelessness and even suicidal thoughts of a person. The fluctuations can be very severe, but the person may experience normal moods between the peaks and troughs. Types Bipolar disorder is of three fundamental types: Bipolar I disorder : This includes manic episodes that last for at least seven days. It is accompanied by abnormal behavior that disrupts life. Manic symptoms are so severe in some cases that the person needs immediate hospitalization. This type of depression lasts for at least two weeks. Bipolar II disorder : This type is quite similar to bipolar I disorder.
Read More
Diagnosing ADHD in children and adults
Mental Health

Diagnosing ADHD in children and adults

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is quite common in adults and children. The diagnosis of ADHD depends on the symptoms. The said person, be it a child or an adult, could show one or all the symptoms associated with ADHD. Also, the symptoms should be present in more than one setting and should have been present since the age of 12 in the diagnosed patient. There are three types of ADHD that can affect an individual. Diagnosis of ADHD in children The diagnosis of ADHD in children can be made by pediatricians, psychiatrists, and child psychologists. Furthermore, such healthcare providers would gather information from different sources such as schools, parents, and caregivers, to understand the ambit of the ADHD. The health care provider will match and observe the data collected to that obtained from children of the same age. The health care provider may use a standardized scale to measure the behavior of the child. Here are some rare symptoms that children may show which can be included in the diagnosis: Inattention Hyperactivity Impulsivity Apart from this, the symptoms in the inclusion of ADHD for children are: Squirming or fidgeting Makes careless mistakes Are easily distracted Lose things often Are in constant motion Do not finish their tasks Do not seem to listen The diagnosis includes a full body test and a scan of the brainwaves to understand the theta and beta ratio; this scan is performed on children between the ages of 6 –17 years only.
Read More
Tips to help you cope with eating disorders
Mental Health

Tips to help you cope with eating disorders

Among the many health disorders prevalent today, eating disorders are quite common. Eating disorders are a complex, dangerous condition which can arise due to multiple psychological, physical, and socio-economic reasons. Those who suffer from them often eat too much or too less, or have habits like purging, vomiting or having rigorous exercise schedules to lose weight. Such patients suffer from an unhealthy body image too, resulting in depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues; necessitating help to cope with them. Understand there is no ‘perfect’ body weight The notion of a perfect weight, diet or body size is false and constructed by society. Trying to attain an ideal physique can only make one unhappy. Thus it is necessary to get rid of this notion as soon as possible. Categorize food groups correctly One of the best ways to prevent eating disorders is by avoiding categorizing foods. Many people tend to categorize food as good and bad. But in reality, there are no such categories, and everything is good in moderation. One must eat according to their body type and have a balanced, nutrient-rich diet. You can try and incorporate practices that will help in increasing your metabolism. An average amount of exercising and staying away from junk food is often enough to stay healthy and feel good.
Read More
A detailed overview of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Mental Health

A detailed overview of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, also known as OCD, is a common, long-lasting and chronic disorder. A person suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder suffers from uncontrollable and reoccurring thoughts or rather, obsessions. Patients tend to develop behaviors or compulsions that make them perform a given task over and over again. If a person thinks they have obsessive-compulsive disorder, then they must talk to a doctor and tell them about their symptoms. If obsessive compulsion disorder is left untreated, then it may start interfering with one’s life sooner rather than later. Signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder There are various signs and symptoms that can be seen in people having obsessive-compulsive disorder. There are symptoms like compulsions, obsessions and in some cases, both are seen. Obsessions These are reoccurring urges, thoughts or mental images formed by the suffering person himself or herself. These give rise to anxiety. The common symptoms are: Aggressive behavior towards others, self or both. Terrible fear of contamination of germs. Making or having things that are in a symmetrical manner or are in perfect order. Unwanted taboo or are reluctant towards religion, sex, and harm. They feel they might hurt someone. Compulsions It is the tendency of showing repetitive behaviors as a response to an obsessive thought.
Read More
7 different triggers of anxiety
Mental Health

7 different triggers of anxiety

Anxiety is a disorder, but most people wrongly consider it a disease. It is a typical mental disorder which is characterized by several common and visualized symptoms. The symptoms can be noticed by both the patient himself, and his family members and they are very easy to diagnose too. A few such symptoms of this mental disorder are unusual nervousness, difficulty in speaking and feelings of worry. Although these are simple and common symptoms, they have adverse effects on the human body and the daily activities. The seven causes or triggers of anxiety Anxiety is also known as a panic attack which enhances and implements the symptoms of fear, tension, and worry in the mind. Therefore, it is recognized as a mental disorder. But gradually, with time, it has been observed that other health issues like chest pain and high blood pressure rise in the body which are often regarded as its complications. Given below are the details of seven triggers of anxiety: Health issues A serious health issue faced by an individual can force him to think about the effect and end of the condition. This can lead to anxiety and the patient will start panicking on small issues more often.
Read More
Types of depression one should know
Mental Health

Types of depression one should know

Depression is a common illness that has affected almost 6.7% of the adult population, according to a recent survey, in the country. This serious mental health disorder can be characterized by feelings of depression and a loss of interest in activities that once were a hobby or something that brought joy to the affected person. This tends to hamper daily life activities which could lead to an increase in bouts of feeling depressed. It has been noted that adolescents are more prone to be suffering from depression. However, this disorder is not specific to that age group. People suffering from depression can undergo extreme stress and may not feel comfortable speaking out loud about it in public. This disorder of the mind is serious and could lead to the affected person taking extreme measures to end the depressed feelings. One should not ignore if they or anyone they know is suffering from depression. In the following, a few of the major types of depression have been listed. Types of depression Not everyone might know about the various types of depression. This mental health disorder is a serious ailment and one should seek treatment as soon as they notice any prominent symptoms.
Read More
Types of schizophrenia
Mental Health

Types of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia can be categorized as a health condition, which is mainly associated with unconventional expressions or false ways to perceive situations around you. Schizophrenia can become quite bothersome when it leads to occupational and social dysfunction. The patient may hear things that are untrue, have hallucinations that are auditory in nature, and even experience hallucinations that are completely visual in nature. None of the things they see actually exist and it is only the condition playing with the patient’s mind. The delusions may rise out of one’s fear or would be very difficult to fathom normally. This may also lead to thinking and speech that is very tough to decipher. In most cases, it gets diagnosed during a person’s early adulthood. As per the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that this condition has affected between 0.6% to 1% of the entire world’s population. There are many different types of schizophrenia and the treatment prescribed to a patient would also depend on the type. Types of schizophrenia Paranoid schizophrenia Since people with this condition have hallucinations, they may end up developing paranoia. They often experience bouts of fear and confusion as they may constantly feel that there are people plotting against them.
Read More
The Most Common Mental Health Disorders
Mental Health

The Most Common Mental Health Disorders

Mental health is the most important component of overall health. The health of our brains determines the overall outcome of our entire life. Simply put, if our brain is not healthy then we are not healthy. There seems to be a painstakingly enormous trend of individuals in unhealthy mental state. The most common mental disorders are schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. When people are undergoing horrid phenomenons in their lives that involve these horrid diseases they can be faced with many unfair stigmas like discrimination from employment, disownment from family, and even bullying. Please keep reading to learn more about these mental disorders: 1. Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a daunting mental disorder that can dramatically ruin someone’s life if they don’t receive proper treatment from a trained mental health professional. Just like other mental disorders, schizophrenia can be hereditary in nature, and may be derived from an imbalance of chemicals in the brain paired with a negative living environment. Metal delusions are the most common signs of schizophrenia. There may be different types of delusions or distorted realities, such as: Erotomanic type: Delusions of another person in love with the individual. Grandiose type: Unrecognized talent or important discovery.
Read More