01 / MORE THAN FEELING SAD
Depression
Depression can affect how a person feels, thinks, sleeps, eats, and manages daily activities. It can involve a persistently low mood or losing interest in things that used to feel enjoyable.
What it can look like
Other signs may include low energy, trouble concentrating, changes in sleep or appetite, and feelings of guilt or hopelessness. In major depression, symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks and interfere with daily life. Children and teens may seem irritable rather than sad.
Support and treatment
Treatment can include psychotherapy, medication, or both. A health care professional can assess symptoms and help someone find appropriate care.
02 / WHEN WORRY GETS IN THE WAY
Anxiety disorders
Occasional anxiety is part of life. Anxiety disorders involve fear or worry that persists, can worsen over time, and interferes with things like school, work, relationships, or everyday activities.
What it can look like
Signs may include feeling restless or on edge, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, sleep problems, or avoiding feared situations. Different conditions include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.
Support and treatment
Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication can help. Treatment depends on the type of anxiety and the person’s needs.
03 / CHANGES IN MOOD, ENERGY, AND ACTIVITY
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder involves distinct mood episodes with changes in energy, activity, and concentration. These can include manic or hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes. The pattern differs depending on the type of bipolar disorder.
What it can look like
During mania, someone may feel unusually energized or irritable, need much less sleep, talk quickly, have racing thoughts, or take unusual risks. Hypomania is less severe than mania. Depressive episodes can bring sadness, low energy, and loss of interest. These episodes are more substantial than everyday mood changes.
Support and treatment
Ongoing treatment often includes medication and psychotherapy. Mania can seriously affect judgment and functioning and may require hospital care.
04 / MORE THAN BEING TIDY OR ORGANIZED
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
OCD involves recurring, unwanted thoughts, urges, or mental images (obsessions), repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions), or both. These symptoms can be time-consuming, distressing, and disruptive.
What it can look like
Obsessions can include fears of contamination or harm, or a need for symmetry. Compulsions can include repeated checking, washing, counting, or silently repeating words. People may feel driven to perform these acts to reduce anxiety, even when they do not want to.
Support and treatment
Treatment can include medication and psychotherapy. Exposure and response prevention (ERP), a form of CBT, helps people respond differently to obsessions without performing compulsions.
05 / WHEN THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA PERSIST
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Many people have reactions after trauma; PTSD involves symptoms that persist and interfere with daily life. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD.
What it can look like
Symptoms can include flashbacks or nightmares, avoiding reminders of the event, feeling tense or easily startled, sleep problems, and changes in mood or beliefs. For a PTSD diagnosis, symptoms last longer than a month; a qualified professional evaluates the full pattern.
Support and treatment
Psychotherapy, medication, or both can help. Some therapies focus on processing traumatic memories and safely managing reminders of the event.
06 / SERIOUS CONDITIONS AT ANY BODY SIZE
Eating disorders
Eating disorders are serious illnesses involving disturbances in eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. They can affect people of any body weight and are not a lifestyle choice. Examples include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
What it can look like
Signs vary and can include severely restricting food, episodes of eating with a sense of losing control, or behaviors intended to compensate for eating. ARFID can involve avoiding or limiting food because of sensory features, low interest in food, or fear of consequences such as choking, rather than weight or shape concerns.
Support and treatment
Early treatment matters. Care may include medical monitoring, nutritional support, psychotherapy, and sometimes medication. Eating disorders can cause serious medical complications, so professional assessment is important.
A NEXT STEP
You can ask for support.
If changes in your thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are affecting everyday life, talk with a health care professional. A primary care provider, school counselor, or trusted adult can help you find appropriate support. You do not need to identify a diagnosis before asking for help.
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