4.5 - Major Psychological Disorders

Anxiety disorders manifest through excessive worry or nervousness that can disrupt a person's ability to function normally in life. For example, a person with generalized anxiety disorder might feel a constant, vague sense of fear without a direct cause, leading to physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating. Panic disorder involves sudden, intense episodes of fear known as panic attacks, such as feeling like one might die or go crazy during these episodes. Phobias are irrational fears about specific objects or situations, while separation anxiety disorder is characterized by extreme distress when anticipating or experiencing separation from significant attachment figures, such as parents.

In OCD, individuals experience constant and involuntary thoughts that provoke anxiety. To alleviate that anxiety, they engage in repetitive behaviors or rituals, like washing hands multiple times or checking to see if a door is locked several times. The compulsive behaviors provide only temporary relief from the obsessions, creating a cycle of anxiety and compulsive action. Hoarding disorder is characterized by an excessive accumulation of items, while trichotillomania and excoriation center around behaviors that can physically harm oneself.

Individuals with PTSD might relive traumatic experiences through flashbacks or nightmares. They may avoid reminders of the trauma and experience heightened arousal, leading to anxiety and irritability. Adjustment disorders arise when a person has difficulty adjusting to stressors such as divorce or job loss, leading to anxiety or depression. The key is that these disorders directly stem from difficult life events that overwhelm a person's coping mechanisms.

Individuals with somatic symptom disorder experience persistent physical symptoms like pain or fatigue, causing substantial emotional distress. This occurs even when medical evaluations conclude that there are no underlying health issues. Illness anxiety disorder involves worrying excessively about serious health conditions, leading individuals to misinterpret benign symptoms as indicative of severe illness. Such worry can lead to significant lifestyle disruptions.

Dissociative amnesia involves the loss of memory for personal information, often following a traumatic event, where individuals may forget entire periods of their life. Dissociative identity disorder includes the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states within a single individual, which may emerge in response to trauma or stress. These identities can have distinct memories, behaviors, and ways of perceiving the world.

Individuals with major depressive disorder often experience profound feelings of sadness and hopelessness, which affect their ability to function daily. Alongside emotional symptoms, physical effects like fatigue, changes in weight, and sleep disturbances are common. Constant negative thinking, feelings of worthlessness, or even thoughts of death or suicide can accompany this disorder. It's crucial to recognize that depression affects both mind and body.

In bipolar disorder, individuals cycle between periods of mania and depression. During manic episodes, they may feel invincible, engage in reckless behavior, or demonstrate high levels of energy and creativity. In contrast, depressive episodes leave them feeling hopeless, fatigued, and uninterested in life. The intensity of these mood swings can vary and impact daily functioning, social relationships, and overall quality of life.

In schizophrenia, individuals may experience hallucinations—perceiving things that are not present, commonly auditory—like hearing voices. Delusions involve strong beliefs that contradict reality, such as thinking others are plotting against them. On the other hand, negative symptoms reflect the absence of normal emotional responses or motivation, leading to withdrawal from social interactions and activities. Recognizing schizophrenia requires a comprehensive understanding of its complex symptoms and their impact on functioning.

Neurodevelopmental disorders impact a child's development, impairing their ability to interact socially and excel academically. ADHD is marked by inattention and hyperactivity, making it challenging to complete tasks and control impulses. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) involves difficulties in social communication and may include repetitive behaviors. Understanding these disorders requires recognizing their long-term impact on a child's life and the importance of early intervention.

Feeding and eating disorders involve intense preoccupations with food, body image, and weight management. Anorexia involves extreme calorie restriction, where individuals see themselves as overweight despite significant weight loss. Bulimia involves cycles of binge eating followed by purging, while binge eating disorder focuses on recurring episodes of eating large quantities of food without purging. These disorders often stem from underlying psychological issues around self-esteem and control.

Individuals suffering from substance-related disorders may develop a dependence on drugs or alcohol, where they use substances to cope with stress or to feel pleasure. They may experience withdrawal symptoms and a strong compulsion to seek and consume the substance despite adverse consequences affecting their life. Thus, these disorders can lead to devastating impacts on personal relationships, career choices, and overall health.