Mental health issues encompass a broad range of conditions from anxiety disorders and depression to bipolar disorders, ADHD, and more. Even though these conditions have existed for many years, they have been only recently highlighted as our understanding of them grew.
However, even those who suffer due to these disorders aren’t necessarily aware of them, which can negatively impact their life. If you are struggling with such issues or believe you are experiencing some of the symptoms discussed below, consider reaching out to professionals. For top mental health services Miami residents can contact Synergy Mental Wellness.
Turn your life around now by understanding yourself better. Here are the top 10 mental health issues in our modern society!
- Eating Disorders
Eating habits, patterns, or issues can often reveal underlying mental health conditions. There are many eating disorders currently classified, such as anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorders, bulimia nervosa, and others.
Many people who undergo traumatic experiences take refuge in either abstaining or overindulging themselves in food. In other cases, people develop other unnatural attitudes towards food, body image, or weight.
For example, individuals suffering from eating disorders may severely restrict their eating patterns, relentlessly pursue thinness, be overly concerned about dieting or calculating calories, repeatedly weigh themselves, or engage in habits of binge eating and purging.
Such eating disorders can lead to more severe psychological consequences and may extend to physical issues as well if an individual does not change their habits and seek help.
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder usually diagnosed in children, yet this mental health issue can last even in adulthood, as 2.8% of adults or more worldwide suffer from this condition. Some common ADHD symptoms include:
- Difficulty in paying attention (Innatention)
- Controlling impulsive behavior (such as acting without thinking)
- Overly active behavior (Hyperactivity)
Individuals suffering from ADHD can have their academic, occupational, or social responsibilities hindered or impeded in various ways. Men are more likely to develop ADHD than women, and studies showcase genetics play a crucial role in its development.
- Depression
Many have referred to depression as the mental health issue of the century. This mood disorder comes with various characteristics, such as:
- Loss of interest or pleasure
- Certain changes in sleep patterns or appetite
- Persistent feelings of sadness
- Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
- Self-harming thoughts or suicide
- Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are another common mental health issue characterized by social anxiety, specific phobias, excessive worry, fear, general panic, or the feeling of sudden danger. Such disorders can impact an individual’s daily activities. It is essential to determine the root of the anxiety disorder and address it.
- Bipolar Disorder
Mood swings can be normal, but when they are extreme, an individual may be suffering from bipolar disorder. This mental health issue is more prominent in women than in men and can include episodes of mania and depression. Mood shifts are highly disruptive and can negatively affect interpersonal relationships, work duties, and overall well-being.
- Schizophrenia
Among the most chronic and severe mental disorders around is schizophrenia. It affects an individual’s thinking patterns, feelings, and behavior. Some common schizophrenia symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, impaired social functioning, or disorganized thinking. Individuals lacking social integration or meaningful relationships that validate their self-worth are often more prone to develop schizophrenia.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Distress or anxiety can make individuals act in certain ways to mitigate their feelings. However, when such conditions are alleviated through obsessions or compulsions, an individual is most likely suffering from OCD. This mental disorder is characterized by intrusive, repetitive, unwanted thoughts and the need or urge to perform certain behaviors or rituals.
- Substance Use Disorders
Among the most common mental health issues of the century are substance use disorders. This condition can refer to anything related to the misuse or dependence on substances or medications.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Traumatic events such as car accidents, mental or physical abuse, and other conditions can lead to the development of PTSD in individuals. Traumatic event survivors who develop PTSD often avoid reminders associated with the event. For example, a car accident survivor might intentionally avoid the most efficient road to work if the accident occurred there. PTSD symptoms also include:
- Emotional numbness
- Flashbacks of the traumatic event
- Nightmares
- Intrusive thoughts or hypervigilance
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
More than five million people in the United States suffer from BPD. Some experts believe that the numbers are higher. A borderline personality disorder comes with many symptoms, including:
- Increased difficulty in regulating emotions
- Unstable emotions, particularly related to self-image
- Self-destructive behavior or intense fear of abandonment