Oct 24, 20223 min read

Important Mental Health Terms

Mental Health refers to a person’s overall well-being. Mental health conditions affect the whole person, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Your mental health influences how you react to the world around you. Your mental health contributes to your ability to handle stressful situations, interact with others, and make decisions. Everyone, at one time or another, has trouble dealing with difficult situations. That is a normal part of life. However, people who find it impossible to cope with everyday problems because they feel overwhelmed may suffer from a more serious mental health issue. Mental health terms are complex and often difficult to understand. Frequently, individuals exhibit multiple symptoms that are attributed to several disorders. If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of mental illness, consult your healthcare provider.

Individuals struggling with mental health issues become overwhelmed and lack the ability to appropriately handle their current situation. There are more than 200 forms of classified mental diagnoses. Some of the more common ones include:

Anxiety Disorders cause excessive worry that interferes with daily activities and include:
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a chronic condition resulting in an individual’s need to perform a specific behavior over and over
- Panic Disorder, unexpected and hypersensitive reaction to a situation
- Phobias, fear related to a specific object or situation
Behavioral Disorders involve patterns that disrupt normal daily routines and include:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), results in a recurring inability to remain focused, combined with constant movement/fidgeting that may include impulsive behavior
- Conduct Disorder, disruptive behavior that violates social norms and the rights of others
- Oppositional-Defiant Disorder a pattern of negative and hostile behavior towards authority
Eating Disorders comprise extreme coping mechanisms regarding body image and include:
- Anorexia, refusal to eat
- Bulimia, recurrent episodes of binge-eating followed by self-induced vomiting
- Binge Eating
Mood Disorders involve extreme feelings of happiness, sadness, or both. Examples include:
- Depression, a serious mood disorder that affects how you cope with daily life
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder causes extreme irritability and frustration resulting in intense outbursts
- Bipolar Disorder
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a chronic condition resulting in an individual’s need to perform a specific behavior over and over
Personality Disorders cause inflexible personality traits which hinder the ability to create and maintain normal, healthy relationships. Personality disorders include:
- Antisocial Personality Disorder, indifference to others and their personal property
- Borderline Personality Disorder
Psychotic Disorders cause individuals to experience hallucinations and delusions. Examples of a Psychotic Disorder includes:
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective Disorder
- Paranoid Personality Disorder
Trauma and Stress Related Disorders leave individuals feeling scared after a traumatic event has passed. An example is:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

What To Do if You are Concerned with Your Mental Health

Your healthcare provider will routinely assess your mental wellbeing to ensure you have the resources needed to cope with life. If you experience any changes to your mental health, or find you are having trouble coping with day-to-day issues, consult with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can help you understand what is happening and can make the appropriate referral to a mental health provider to get you the help you need.