Although we’re learning more about mental illness all the time, brains are extremely complex and there is still much we don’t understand about how they work and what can go wrong. What’s more, everyone is different and symptoms often present differently in different people. These differences can be related to age, sex, culture, background, and… Continue Reading 3 Mental Health Issues that Are Frequently Misdiagnosed
Depression affects about 16 million Americans every year. The World Health Organization calls depression the number one cause of disability worldwide. Symptoms typically include prolonged feelings of sadness, fatigue, irritability, aggression, lack of motivation, disturbed sleep, poor memory and concentration, feelings of hopelessness, physical aches, and thoughts of suicide or death. The symptoms of depression… Continue Reading What’s the Difference Between Depression and Dysthymia?
Living with mental illness makes everything harder. If you’re depressed, you might not be able to get out of bed. If you have an anxiety disorder, you may be irrationally afraid of necessary things like driving or social interaction. If you have schizophrenia or a personality disorder, it may be very difficult to form stable… Continue Reading Is There Anything Good About Mental Illness?
No one wants to live with mental illness. Mental illnesses can make your life harder in many ways. Depending on what you have, you may be depressed, anxious, impulsive, angry, combative, confused, or paranoid. Now it appears mental illness has another big drawback: it can shorten your life. Depending on what mental health issue you… Continue Reading Can Mental Illness Shorten Your Life?
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects about two million Americans. It’s best known symptoms are auditory and visual hallucinations, but other symptoms include delusional thinking, disordered or incoherent thinking or speech, social withdrawal, or diminished affect in speech or facial expressions. Although most people know something about schizophrenia, many people misunderstand the condition, leading… Continue Reading 4 Common Misconceptions About Schizophrenia
Every year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. May is Mental Health Month, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and participants across the country help bring awareness to mental health. Each year they fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care. Each year, the… Continue Reading Mental Health Month