Understand Mental Health Problems
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Understand Mental Health Problems
Some mental health problems are described using words that are in everyday use; for example, ‘depression’ or ‘anxiety’. This can make them seem easier to understand, but can also mean people underestimate how serious they can be.
Some of the most commonly diagnosed forms of mental health problem are described below.
Depression
Depression lowers your mood, and can make you feel hopeless, worthless, unmotivated and exhausted. It can affect sleep, appetite, libido and self-esteem. It can also interfere with daily activities and, sometimes, your physical health. This may set off a vicious cycle, because the worse you feel, the more depressed you are likely to get. Depression can be experienced at different levels e.g. mild or severe, and can be related to certain experiences; for example, postnatal depression occurs after childbirth. Depression is often associated with anxiety. Many of the children I work with often can feel depressed especially at certain periods such as Christmas or Birthdays if they have little or no contact with paternal family this causes feelings of being unwanted or unworthy.
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean constant and unrealistic worry about any aspect of daily life. It may cause restlessness, sleeping problems and possibly physical symptoms; for example, an increased heartbeat, stomach upset, muscle tension or feeling shaky. If the individual is highly anxious they may also develop related problems, such as panic attacks, a phobia or obsessive compulsive disorder. Many of the children I work with are Autistic and cannot always communicate their feelings this can lead to increased anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has two main parts: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts; ideas or urges that repeatedly appear in the mind; for example, thinking that they have been contaminated by dirt and germs, or worrying that they haven’t turned off the oven....
Some mental health problems are described using words that are in everyday use; for example, ‘depression’ or ‘anxiety’. This can make them seem easier to understand, but can also mean people underestimate how serious they can be.
Some of the most commonly diagnosed forms of mental health problem are described below.
Depression
Depression lowers your mood, and can make you feel hopeless, worthless, unmotivated and exhausted. It can affect sleep, appetite, libido and self-esteem. It can also interfere with daily activities and, sometimes, your physical health. This may set off a vicious cycle, because the worse you feel, the more depressed you are likely to get. Depression can be experienced at different levels e.g. mild or severe, and can be related to certain experiences; for example, postnatal depression occurs after childbirth. Depression is often associated with anxiety. Many of the children I work with often can feel depressed especially at certain periods such as Christmas or Birthdays if they have little or no contact with paternal family this causes feelings of being unwanted or unworthy.
Anxiety
Anxiety can mean constant and unrealistic worry about any aspect of daily life. It may cause restlessness, sleeping problems and possibly physical symptoms; for example, an increased heartbeat, stomach upset, muscle tension or feeling shaky. If the individual is highly anxious they may also develop related problems, such as panic attacks, a phobia or obsessive compulsive disorder. Many of the children I work with are Autistic and cannot always communicate their feelings this can lead to increased anxiety
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has two main parts: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts; ideas or urges that repeatedly appear in the mind; for example, thinking that they have been contaminated by dirt and germs, or worrying that they haven’t turned off the oven....