- Depression.
One of the most misunderstood mental disorders, depression remains one of the most common conditions affecting people in the United Kingdom, one in 10 people in the UK could suffer depression in their lifetime.
Depression is sometimes misrepresented as simply feelings of sadness. The NHS characterises depression by feelings of intense sadness that persist for weeks or even months on end. A person suffering from depression can feel constantly hopeless, sad and alone. People with depression often lose interest in hobbies or activities that they previously enjoyed, and the disorder can manifest itself physically, sometimes resulting in constant tiredness, sleeping badly or a loss of sex drive.
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is another common mental disorder in the United Kingdom, with up to 5% of the population meeting the criteria. The defining feature of the condition is an inability to feel relaxed and to ignore worries and anxieties. The NHS refer to the illness as a long term condition that spans a wide range of anxieties as opposed to a specific event.
- Phobias
While many people would say that they have a phobia, of spiders for example, most are not suffering from a mental health disorder, and likely have a simple fear. A phobia is a debilitating fear which can take the form of animals, objects, places or situations.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a condition in which a person is frequently consumed by obsessive thoughts and behaviours. A person with OCD will have a compulsive behaviour or set of compulsive behaviours which they feel bring relief to negative feelings such as discomfort or disgust that they experience due to obsessive thought. This can take the form of compulsive cleaning for example.
- Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder takes the form of regular panic attacks, often for no apparent reason. These attacks can be extremely frightening but usually go away after a few minutes with no lasting effects. Some of the symptoms can include a raised heartbeat, heavy sweating, hot flushes or chills and dizziness.
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