DEPRESSION
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It affects all facets of daily life for at least two weeks, including how you think, feel and behave. It is not simply a feeling of sadness that one needs to “snap out of;” rather, it is more pervasive and persistent, and affects the whole being of a person. It can be devastating to you and your loved ones when left untreated.

ANXIETY
Anxiety is characterized by nervousness, worry and fear that is intense and ongoing, affecting a person’s functioning. Specifically, fear is excessive and experienced as a person’s emotional response to a real or perceived threat. Such intense worry and fear have emotional, physical and behavioral consequences that can severely impact an individual’s life as well as the lives of their loved ones.

PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by a traumatic event. Traumatic events range across the spectrum and include actual or possible death, sexual assault, violence, abuse, combat, accidents, fires, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and life-threatening medical diagnoses. A traumatic event may be experienced directly or witnessed; sometimes the simple knowledge of the traumatic event happening to your loved one or loved ones is enough to cause PTSD.

OCD
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder consisting of two general groups of symptoms: obsessions and compulsions. It affects about 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children in the United States.

Obsessions consist of intrusive, unwelcome, upsetting thoughts and images that do not easily go away. In a sense, the brain of a person with OCD gets stuck in gear, making it incredibly difficult to shift from these thoughts that keep playing in your mind. Compulsions are the behaviors that people with OCD carry out to seemingly manage the anxiety and fears caused by their obsessions. Obsessions and compulsions are linked together in a way that intensifies the hold OCD has over a person.

POST PARTUM DEPRESSION
Depression can occur in pregnancy as well as post-delivery. Depression that is brought on during pregnancy is called prenatal or antepartum depression, and depression after delivery is called postpartum depression. Approximately 15 percent of women experience some degree of postpartum depression after delivery.

ACUTE STRESS DISORDER
Acute stress disorder is a mental health disorder that often occurs after a traumatic event.  It causes adverse symptoms to occur for at least three to 30 days after the traumatic event. If left untreated, it can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Traumatic events triggering acute stress disorder may include natural disasters, the death of a loved one, a terminal diagnosis, motor vehicle accidents, domestic violence, sexual assault, the threat of death or serious injury, and surviving a traumatic brain injury. Acute stress disorder occurs in 20-50 percent of witnesses or victims of trauma involving interpersonal assault, such as rape or witnessing a shooting. Acute stress disorder occurs in less than 20% following trauma without interpersonal assault, such as motor vehicle accidents and traumatic brain injury.

ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a long-lasting disorder characterized by poor attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD usually appears first in childhood, yet adults are also affected by ADHD. An estimated 9% of children ages 3 to 17 have ADHD, and 4% of adults have ADHD.

ADD is often used to characterize ADHD without hyperactivity, yet at this time, ADD is no longer a relevant term. ADHD is now the sole terminology used by clinicians, yet it can be specified. For instance, now ADD is referred to as “ADHD, primarily inattentive type.”

Several factors are believed to cause ADHD. Genetics are believed to play a role in ADHD, as one may have a higher risk of developing ADHD if it already runs in their family. In addition, there are certain trends related to brain differences in the part of our brain that affects attention. Also, it is also believed that environmental factors play into the development of ADHD.

AUTISM
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children and 1 in 45 adults in the United States today.

BIPOLAR
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. These shifts can make it difficult to function in daily life.

Some symptoms of bipolar disorder include:

• • Manic episodes: Periods of extreme elation, irritability, or energy
  • Depressive episodes: Periods of sadness, hopelessness, or indifference
  • Hypomanic episodes: Less severe manic episodes that don’t cause significant impairment
  • Sleep changes: Needing less or too much sleep
  • Risky behavior: Spending or giving away a lot of money, eating or drinking too much, or having reckless sex
  • Suicidal thoughts: Thinking about death or suicide

Bipolar disorder can be managed with medication and counseling, but there is no known cure. Some common medications used to treat bipolar disorder include mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants.