Symptoms of Mental Disorders

Anxiety Disorder Muscle tension Physical weakness Poor memory Sweaty hands Fear or confusion Inability to relax Constant worry Shortness of breath Palpitations Upset stomach Poor concentration

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms: The inability to keep one’s attention focused on a task, trouble organizing tasks, avoiding things that take effort, and follow-through. hyperactivity (fidgeting, excessive talking, restlessness) impulsivity (difficulty waiting one’s turn or with patience, interrupting others). It is typically treated with stimulant medications, such as Ritalin, and psychotherapy.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge Being easily fatigued Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank Irritability Muscle tension Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)

Depression Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities every day Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain or/and decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day. Insomnia (inability to get to sleep or difficulty staying asleep) or hypersomnia (sleeping too much) nearly every day Psychomotor agitation (e.g., restlessness, inability to sit still, pacing, pulling at clothes or clothes) or retardation (e.g., slowed speech, movements, quiet talking) nearly every day. Fatigue, tiredness, or loss of energy nearly every day Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideas without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide

Panic Disorder Panic disorder symptoms are primarily centered around panic attacks. Panic attacks often consist of a pounding heart, sweatiness, a feeling of weakness, faintness or dizziness. The hands may tingle or feel numb, the person may feel flushed or chilled. There can be chest pain or smothering sensations, a sense of unreality, a fear of impending doom or loss of control. The person may genuinely believe they are having a heart attack or stroke, losing their mind, or on the verge of death.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental disorder that sometimes follows when a person has directly experienced or witnessed an extremely traumatic, tragic, or terrifying event. People with PTSD usually have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal and feel emotionally numb, especially with people they were once close to.

Schizophrenia Delusions Hallucinations Disorganized thinking Agitation Affective flattening – The person’s range of emotional expression is clearly diminished; poor eye contract; reduced body language Alogia – A poverty of speech, such as brief, empty replies Avolition – Inability to initiate and persist in goal-directed activities (such as school or work)

Intellectual Disability (Mental Retardation) Intellectual Disability, formerly known as “Mental Retardation,” is a disorder with onset during the developmental period. It includes intellectual deficits and difficulty functioning in daily life in areas such as communication, self-care, home living, social/interpersonal skills, self-direction, academics, work, leisure, health, and safety.

Bipolar Disorder During a manic phase: During a depressed phase: heightened sense of self-importance feelings of sadness or hopelessness exaggerated positive outlook loss of interest in pleasurable or usual activities significantly decreased need for sleep difficulty sleeping; early-morning awakening poor appetite and weight loss loss of energy and constant lethargy racing speech, flight of ideas, impulsiveness sense of guilt or low self-esteem ideas that move quickly from one subject to the next difficulty concentrating negative thoughts about the future poor concentration, easily distracted weight gain or weight loss increased activity level talk of suicide or death excessive involvement in pleasurable activities poor financial choices, rash spending sprees excessive irritability, aggressive behavior