People with generalized anxiety disorder display excessive anxiety or worry, most days for at least 6 months, about a number of things such as personal health, work, social interactions, and everyday routine life circumstances. The fear and anxiety can cause significant problems in areas of their life, such as social interactions, school, and work.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms include:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml
While most but not all traumatized people experience short term symptoms, the majority do not develop ongoing (chronic) PTSD. Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some experiences, like the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one, can also cause PTSD. Symptoms usually begin early, within 3 months of the traumatic incident, but sometimes they begin years afterward. Symptoms must last more than a month and be severe enough to interfere with relationships or work to be considered PTSD. The course of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, while others have symptoms that last much longer. In some people, the condition becomes chronic.
To be diagnosed with PTSD, an adult must have all of the following for at least 1 month:
Re-experiencing symptoms include:
Avoidance symptoms include:
Things that remind a person of the traumatic event can trigger avoidance symptoms. These symptoms may cause a person to change his or her personal routine. For example, after a bad car accident, a person who usually drives may avoid driving or riding in a car.
Arousal and reactivity symptoms include:
Cognition and mood symptoms include:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity are the key behaviors of ADHD. Some people with ADHD only have problems with one of the behaviors, while others have both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. Most children have the combined type of ADHD.
People with symptoms of inattention may often:
People with symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity may often:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml
People with bipolar disorder experience periods of unusually intense emotion, changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and uncharacteristic behaviors—often without recognizing their likely harmful or undesirable effects. These distinct periods are called “mood episodes.” Mood episodes are very different from the moods and behaviors that are typical for the person. During an episode, the symptoms last every day for most of the day. Episodes may also last for longer periods, such as several days or weeks.
People having a manic episode may: | People having a depressive episode may: |
---|---|
Feel very “up,” “high,” elated, or irritable or touchy | Feel very sad, “down,” empty, worried, or hopeless |
Feel “jumpy” or “wired” | Feel slowed down or restless |
Have a decreased need for sleep | Have trouble falling asleep, wake up too early, or sleep too much |
Have a loss of appetite | Experience increased appetite and weight gain |
Talk very fast about a lot of different things | Talk very slowly, feel like they have nothing to say, forget a lot |
Feel like their thoughts are racing | Have trouble concentrating or making decisions |
Think they can do a lot of things at once | Feel unable to do even simple things |
Do risky things that show poor judgment, such as eat and drink excessively, spend or give away a lot of money, or have reckless sex | Have little interest in almost all activities, a decreased or absent sex drive, or an inability to experience pleasure (“anhedonia”) |
Feel like they are unusually important, talented, or powerful | Feel hopeless or worthless, think about death or suicide |
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from depression:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
People with OCD may have symptoms of obsessions, compulsions, or both. These symptoms can interfere with all aspects of life, such as work, school, and personal relationships.
Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. Common symptoms include:
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person with OCD feels the urge to do in response to an obsessive thought. Common compulsions include:
A person with OCD generally:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml
The behaviors listed below may be signs that someone is thinking about suicide.
If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently.
“Are you thinking about killing yourself?” It’s not an easy question, but studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase suicides or suicidal thoughts.
Reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention. While this is not always easy, asking if the at-risk person has a plan and removing or disabling the lethal means can make a difference.
Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling. Research suggests acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal thoughts.
Save the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s (1-800-273-TALK (8255)) and the Crisis Text Line’s number (741741) in your phone, so it’s there when you need it. You can also help make a connection with a trusted individual like a family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional.
Staying in touch after a crisis or after being discharged from care can make a difference. Studies have shown the number of suicide deaths goes down when someone follows up with the at-risk person.