Your Emotional Health

People who are emotionally healthy are in control of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. They feel good about themselves and have good relationships. They can keep problems in perspective.

It's important to remember that people who have good emotional health sometimes have emotional problems or mental illness. Mental illness often has a physical cause, such as a chemical imbalance in the brain. Stress and problems with family, work or school can sometimes trigger mental illness or make it worse. However, people who are emotionally healthy have learned ways to cope with stress and problems. They know when they need to seek help from their doctor or a counselor.

"Mood Disorders" are the most common groupings of psychiatric disorders. The primary symptom is that of changed affect or mood. These mood disorders may be bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression), in which the person swings between extreme high and low moods, or depression in which the person has persistent low moods. The medical cause is attributed to chemical imbalances or structural defects that disrupt normal brain processing. The most common affective disorder is depression.

Depression

Depression is a mental illness marked by feelings of profound sadness and lack of interest in activities. Depression is not the same as a blue mood. It is a persistent low mood that interferes with the ability to function and appreciate things in life. It may cause a wide range of symptoms, both physical and emotional. It can last for weeks, months, or years. People with depression rarely recover without treatment.

• Depression cuts across gender, race, and ethnicity.
• A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood.
• It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away.
• People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better.
• Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years.
• Treatment can help most people who suffer from depression.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder results in extreme swings in mood, energy, and ability to function. The mood changes of bipolar disorder are more dramatic than normal ups and downs. They can hurt relationships and cause poor job or school performance. Bipolar disorder can be treated. Contact your doctor if you think you may have this condition.

The two extremes of the illness are mania and depression. In mania, energy peaks. The mood may be overly happy or irritable. In depression, lethargy takes over. The mood may be very blue.

The cause of bipolar disorder is not known. This condition tends to run in families. Specific genes may play a role. It is most likely many different genes that act together.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) causes chronic, exaggerated worrying and anxiety about everyday life. Everyone worries at times, but people with GAD can never relax and usually anticipate the worst. The intensity and pervasiveness of their worry interferes with normal functioning at school, work, and in their relationships. The worrying is often not related to anything in particular. Instead, each day provokes tension and anxiety.

People with GAD often worry excessively about health, family, work, or money. The worry is so severe that it interferes with their ability to live their lives. The anxiety can also progress to the point where people "worry about worrying." GAD usually starts in childhood or adolescence, but can also start in early adulthood. It is not unusual for GAD to start after age 20.

Post-Traumatic Stress

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that develops after a traumatic event. PTSD has also been called shell shock or battle fatigue.

The exact cause of PTSD is unknown. PTSD is triggered by exposure to a traumatic event, but not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD.

Situations in which a person feels intense fear, helplessness, or horror are considered traumatic.

Mental Illness in the Family ... Recognizing the Warning Signs

In adults:

• confused thinking
• prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
• feelings of extreme highs and lows
• excessive fears, worries and anxieties
• social withdrawal
• dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
• strong feelings of anger
• delusions or hallucinations
• growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
• suicidal thoughts
• denial of obvious problems
• numerous unexplained physical ailments
• substance abuse

In older children and pre-adolescents:

• substance abuse
• inability to cope with problems and daily activities
• change in sleeping and/or eating habits
• excessive complaints of physical ailments
• defiance of authority, truancy, theft, and/or vandalism
• intense fear of weight gain
• prolonged negative mood, often accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death
• frequent outbursts of anger

In younger children:

• changes in school performance
• poor grades despite strong efforts
• excessive worry or anxiety (i.e. refusing to go to bed or school)
• hyperactivity
• persistent nightmares
• persistent disobedience or aggression
• frequent temper tantrums

More Resources

The following additional resources may be helpful when learning about Your Emotional Health:

• Mental Health Wellness Center
  www.harthosp.org/HealthLibrary/WellnessCenters/MentalHealth
• Mental Health Guide
  www.harthosp.org/HealthLibrary/WellnessCenters/MentalHealth/default.aspx?chunkiid=36129
• Other Resources on the Web
  www.natchaug.org/links.htm