A Quick Guide to the Most Common Types of Psychiatric Disorders

Mental illnesses are much more common than you might believe. In fact, over 51 million American adults live with some type of mental health disorder.

It never hurts to learn more about these disorders and what to watch for in terms of symptoms. Keep reading to find the three most common psychiatric disorders and the signs you should know.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Everybody worries from time to time. If you have a big due date looming over your head at work or are fighting with your partner, it’s normal to worry. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) goes far beyond everyday worrying.

People with GAD often are very distressed even if there are little or zero reasons to fret. They might find it difficult to do the tasks they need to to get through the day. They spend a lot of time worrying even about things they know, on some level, there’s no reason to fret about.

Other symptoms of GAD include:

• sleep disturbances
• difficulty concentrating
• fatigue
• gastrointestinal issues (diarrhea or constipation)
• sweaty palms
• numbness or tingling

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) causes people to participate in repetitive thoughts, behaviors, or obsessions. People with OCD feel driven to carry out certain tasks or behaviors. Many folks who have OCD realize their behavior is unwarranted in most cases, but can’t stop the compulsion.

OCD symptoms include obsessions and compulsions, though not every person with OCD will have both.

Obsessions are uncontrollable thought patterns or fears. It may look like being afraid of germs so avoiding touching anything other people may have touched.

Compulsions are repetitive rituals or actions that folks with OCD feel compelled to do. It might look like washing hands over and over.

Depression

Like anxiety, everyone feels sadness in their life. It’s normal to feel sad if you’ve lost a loved one or if you’re going through a divorce. Most of the time, this type of sadness is short-lived.

Folks that feel unhappy for long periods of time, though, may be suffering from depression. Around 7% of the US population has depression, making it one of the most common mental health disorders in America.

Symptoms of depression include:

• feelings of hopelessness
• feeling sad or irritable most of the day
• feeling worthless
• difficulty sleeping
• difficulty concentrating
• self-harm
• suicidal thoughts

You might not know when to see a psychiatrist when you think you have depression. The answer is “as soon as possible,” especially if you start having thought of self-harm or suicide. Reach out to someone like Richard A Waldman MD to start the healing process.

Learning to Cope With Psychiatric Disorders

If any of the above psychiatric disorders sound familiar to you, you know now you’re not alone. Mental health conditions are treatable with medication and psychotherapy. Be sure to reach out to your primary healthcare practitioner for a formal diagnosis and the next step in your treatment.

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