According to Mental Health America, approximately 21% of adults (52 million people) experienced mental health problems in 2020, representing 1 in 5 adults with this disorder. So, it can be inferred that the prevalence of mental health problems is a bit high in the United States.
Many people with mental health problems can work and function in everyday society, while a few may need in-patient care either briefly or for prolonged periods to become mentally stable.
Let’s talk about some frequent mental health problems affecting people today and where to go for the best quality mental health treatments.
Depression
Most people have probably experienced moments of depression at some point in their lives. However, depression can be chronic and last for months or years for some people. Depression is caused by a combined action of genetic and environmental factors and often begins in the teenage or young adult years.
Symptoms of depression include:
- Feeling sad, hopeless
- Losing interest in activities
- Feeling tired or lacking energy and in some severe cases thoughts of suicide
- Seasonal depression during the winter months.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a feeling of fear. Sometimes, anxiety can be so high that it interferes with a person’s ability to function. An anxiety disorder can manifest as generalized anxiety, such as excessive worrying about everyday stressors, including work, money, and relationships. It can also manifest as phobias, where people have extreme fears in certain situations.
Some people with anxiety experience panic attacks or a sudden onset of extreme anxiety with physical symptoms, such as sweating and an increased heart rate.
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders can manifest as either unipolar depression or bipolar depression. In unipolar depression, the primary symptom is periods of depression and low mood. In bipolar depression, a person goes through cycles of high energy and mood (mania) and low energy and mood (depression).
Some people with bipolar depression can experience these two states simultaneously, called a mixed state. People with mood disorders experience changes in their behavior, energy levels, and activity levels.
Psychotic Disorders
People with psychotic disorders experience a loss of touch with reality. Their thoughts can become distorted, making them think unreal things, or you may say delusions. They may experience problems with perception, such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there, called hallucinations.
This disorder also includes thought disorders, i.e., schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Some people with bipolar can also experience psychosis.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders can cause emotional instability and unhealthy and inflexible pattern of thinking and behavior. Although the cause of personality disorders is unknown, it’s thought that genes and childhood experiences play a role.
Some people with personality disorders may have trouble realizing they have a problem or blame others for problems.
Mental Health Treatment in Richmond, VA
If you’re looking for help with a mental health problem, our experienced team at Epic Health Partners is here for you. We provide comprehensive psychiatric services and outpatient therapy as just a few of our many services. Our team is led by experienced licensed professional counselors and licensed clinical social workers to help you overcome your mental health problems.
To know more about the treatment options or schedule an appointment, contact us at the office location nearest you. We are conveniently located in Richmond, Martinsville, and Danville. Alternatively, you can also fill out our online appointment request form.
We look forward to serving you!
