Mental health challenges affect millions of people worldwide, each presenting unique struggles and complexities....
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Medically Reviewed by
Dr. Thompson
Last updated: June 11, 2025
What Are Mental Disorders?
Mental disorders are health conditions that affect how a person thinks, feels, behaves, or relates to others and their environment.
These conditions are not simply “bad days” or temporary emotional responses to life’s challenges—they are legitimate medical conditions that involve disruptions in brain function, chemistry, and structure.
Mental disorders can develop from factors including genetics, brain chemistry, trauma, environmental stressors, and life experiences.
They affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life, and contrary to common misconceptions, they are not a sign of personal weakness or character flaws.
The key characteristic that distinguishes a mental disorder from normal emotional responses is the significant impairment it causes in daily functioning.
What Types of Mental Disorders Are There?
Mental health professionals classify mental disorders into several major categories based on symptoms, causes, and treatment approaches based on the DSM-5.
It’s important to note that many individuals may experience symptoms from more than one category simultaneously.
This co-occurrence, known as comorbidity, is common and requires comprehensive, individualized treatment approaches.
Mood disorders are among the most prevalent mental health conditions, affecting approximately 9.7% of adults in the United States each year.
Mood disorders are characterized by significant disturbances in a person’s emotional state that go beyond normal mood fluctuations. Major depressive disorder alone affects about 8.4% of adults annually, while bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.8% of the adult population.
Below are some of the most common mood disorders that we treat:
Major Depressive Disorder is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. Symptoms must be present for at least two weeks and significantly impact daily functioning.
Bipolar Disorder involves alternating episodes of depression and mania or hypomania, creating extreme mood swings that can affect judgment, behavior, and the ability to think clearly.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)
Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD), formerly known as dysthymia, is a chronic form of depression where symptoms are present for at least two years but may be less severe than major depression.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at specific times of the year, most commonly during fall and winter months when natural light exposure is reduced.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that causes significant mood symptoms in the weeks before menstruation, including depression, anxiety, and irritability.
Trauma disorders develop following exposure to or witnessing traumatic events such as accidents, violence, natural disasters, or other life-threatening situations.
These conditions affect how the brain processes and responds to memories and stress.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most well-known trauma disorder, characterized by intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance behaviors, negative changes in thinking and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity that persist for more than one month after the traumatic event.
Acute Stress Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder presents similar symptoms to PTSD but occurs immediately following the traumatic event and lasts between three days and one month.
Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment Disorder occurs when an individual has difficulty coping with or adjusting to a specific stressor or life change, resulting in emotional or behavioral symptoms that are disproportionate to the severity of the stressor.
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Anxiety disorders are the most common category of mental health conditions, affecting approximately 40 million adults in the United States each year.
While anxiety is a normal human emotion, anxiety disorders involve excessive fear or worry that interferes with daily activities and relationships. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only about one-third of those affected receive treatment.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life, including work, health, family, and daily routine activities, even when there is little or no reason for concern.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by intense fear or anxiety in social situations due to concerns about being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated by others.
Panic Disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—sudden episodes of intense fear that reach their peak within minutes and include physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, and shortness of breath.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder consists of unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that individuals feel driven to perform to reduce anxiety or prevent feared outcomes.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life, including work, health, family, and daily routine activities, even when there is little or no reason for concern.
Personality disorders involve enduring patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that deviate significantly from cultural expectations and cause distress or impairment in functioning.
These patterns typically emerge by early adulthood and remain stable over time.
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, including deceitfulness, impulsivity, aggression, and lack of remorse.
Borderline Personality Disorder involves instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, along with significant impulsivity and fear of abandonment.
Histrionic Personality Disorder is marked by excessive attention-seeking behavior, emotional dysregulation, and theatrical or dramatic presentation.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder involves grandiose sense of self-importance, need for excessive admiration, and lack of empathy for others.
Avoidant Personality Disorder is characterized by pervasive social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation.
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder involves preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control at the expense of flexibility and efficiency.
Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are complex mental health conditions that affect how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
These disorders involve disruptions in thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and social interactions.
Catatonic Schizophrenia is characterized by prominent psychomotor disturbances, including stupor, excessive motor activity, extreme negativism, or peculiar voluntary movements.
Cenesthopathic Schizophrenia
Cenesthopathic Schizophrenia involves abnormal bodily sensations and somatic concerns as prominent features alongside typical schizophrenia symptoms.
Paranoid Schizophrenia is characterized by prominent delusions and auditory hallucinations while cognitive functioning and affect remain relatively preserved.
Residual Schizophrenia occurs when there is a history of schizophrenia but current symptoms are minimal or absent, though some mild symptoms may persist.
Schizoaffective Disorder combines symptoms of schizophrenia with major mood episodes, creating a complex presentation that requires specialized treatment approaches.
Undifferentiated Schizophrenia is diagnosed when symptoms meet criteria for schizophrenia but don’t clearly fit into other specific subtypes.
Learn More About Mental Disorders
Discover more about recognizing, understanding, and managing mental disorders:
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How Common Are Mental Disorders?
Mental disorders are remarkably common, affecting nearly one in four adults in the United States each year according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Over the course of a lifetime, approximately half of all Americans will experience at least one mental health condition.
Despite their prevalence, mental disorders often go untreated due to barriers such as stigma, lack of access to care, financial constraints, or simply not recognizing the symptoms as treatable conditions.
Treating Mental Disorders
Despite the diversity with mental disorders, all share one crucial characteristic: they are treatable conditions that respond to appropriate intervention and support.
Whether through psychotherapy, medication management, lifestyle modifications, or a combination of approaches, individuals with mental health conditions can experience significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life.
Recovery is not only possible but expected with proper treatment.
Modern mental health care offers numerous evidence-based interventions that have been proven effective through rigorous research and clinical practice.
The key is finding the right combination of treatments tailored to each individual’s unique needs, circumstances, and goals.
At Arbor Wellness, we understand that seeking help for mental health concerns requires courage and represents the first step toward healing.
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How to Cope With A Mood Disorder
Developing effective coping strategies is essential for managing mood disorders and improving quality of life.
Establishing routine
Establishing routine provides structure and predictability, which can help stabilize mood and reduce anxiety. Regular sleep schedules, meal times, and daily activities create a foundation for emotional stability.
Physical activity
Physical activity has been shown to be highly effective in managing mood disorders, with regular exercise helping to regulate neurotransmitters, reduce stress hormones, and improve overall well-being. Even moderate activities like walking, swimming, or yoga can provide significant benefits.
Stress management techniques
Stress management techniques including deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and mindfulness practices can help individuals manage daily stressors and prevent mood episodes. Learning to identify and modify negative thought patterns through cognitive restructuring techniques is also valuable.
Social support
Social support is crucial for recovery and ongoing management. Maintaining connections with supportive friends and family members, joining support groups, and building a network of understanding individuals can provide emotional support and practical assistance.
Healthy lifestyle choices
Healthy lifestyle choices including proper nutrition, adequate sleep, limiting alcohol and avoiding drugs, and engaging in enjoyable activities can support mood stability. Creating a wellness plan that includes these elements provides a comprehensive approach to self-care.
You Are Not Alone.
You Deserve To Get Help.
Arbor Wellness is an industry leader in mental health treatment. Our team of top medical experts specialize in dual diagnosis treatment and are committed to ensuring that each patient is treated as an individual.
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