Some mental health disorders can be psychotic in nature. Psychosis is a condition in which people have trouble identifying what is real and what is not. Individuals experiencing psychosis might lose their touch with reality.
Causes of Psychotic disorders are hard to identify. The first episode of psychosis can occur due to a variety of mental and physical reasons. It can also be caused due to stressors in the environment or substance use. There may be times when individuals are completely free of any kind of symptoms of psychosis and may only experience one or a few episodes in their entire lifetime. However, they may also experience several episodes and might be severely affected by psychotic disorders in their everyday life.
Signs and symptoms of Psychosis:
Delusions: False beliefs arising from distorted interpretations of reality. They might seem bizarre to others, but the person experiencing them considers them to be real.
Hallucinations: Perceptions of hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting of feeling something that is actually not real. The most common is hearing voices containing negative or unpleasant thoughts.
Thinking problems: Inability to think clearly, to concentrate on tasks of conversations, inability to turn off imagination or strange ideas, difficulty generating thoughts or controlling them.
Behavioural changes: Sleeping problems, loss of appetite, reduced motivation, no desire to socialize, being unable to complete everyday tasks, substance abuse and even suicidal thoughts
Emotional changes: Anxiety and depression, mood changes, suspiciousness, constant fear, sudden anger, restricted emotional expression, flat facial expressions, inappropriate emotional responses
Examples of Psychotic Disorders:
Mental illnesses that are considered to be psychotic disorders include the following:
Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective disorder
Bipolar disorder
Psychotic depression
Substance-induced psychosis
Schizophrenia:
Schizophrenia is a complex mental problem, which occurs due to changes in brain. It can occur in both men and women, but some studies suggest it is slightly more common in men. It can start in late teens to early twenties, but can also develop later in life. It could start to escalate rapidly or may be slow to develop with infrequent episodes.
Living with schizophrenia can be challenging for an individual as well as his or her family members, caretakers, friends and acquaintances. Hallucinations and delusions are common. There is also reduced emotional expression, reduced ability to function normally in everyday tasks, loss of interest, confusion in thoughts and disorganized behaviour and speech.
Schizoaffective disorder:
A person with schizoaffective disorder shows symptoms of schizophrenia as well as concurrent symptoms of a mood-related disorder.
Bipolar disorder:
Bipolar disorder can sometimes be seen as a mood-related disorder as well. It is a medical condition in which a person experiences a high state of mania (elevated mood) and a low state of depression in a cycle. These are not just mood changes as experienced normally in our lives, but are often extreme states. These are accompanied by periods of ‘well state’ of normal mood in between the manic and depressive cycles.
Manic state: Feelings of being unreasonably extraordinary and great, excessive energy, super-motivated, heightened risk-taking capacity, poor judgment, elevated mood, irritability, racing thoughts, easily distracted
Depressive state: Depressed mood, lack of energy, lack of interest or motivation, sleep-related problems, feelings of worthlessness, suicidal thoughts
Psychotic depression:
Severe depression can sometimes be accompanied by symptoms of psychosis. It sometimes looks like the depressive state of the bipolar disorder without being accompanied by its manic state.
Substance-induced psychosis:
The use of alcohol or drugs like cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine, LSD, and acetaminophens can sometimes lead to psychotic conditions like hallucinations and delusions. This can happen due to excessive consumption/ intoxication or due to withdrawal from the substance.
Treatment of Psychosis:
Some treatment options for psychotic disorders include the following and are often used in combination with a healthy lifestyle including appropriate social connections, physical activities and appropriate diet and nutrition:
- antipsychotic medication
- mood stabilizing medication
- anti-depressants
- psychotherapy
- psychiatric treatment
- occupational therapy
- recreational therapy
- spiritual advice
- peer support
References:
American Psychiatric Association (APA) (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5.
Canadian Mental Health Association (2014). Schizophrenia.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (2017). Schizophrenia: An Information Guide.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (2020). Psychosis.
Mental Health Commission of Canada (2010). Mental Health first aid material.
Substance use means the usage of alcohol and drugs, including substances like cigarettes, prescription drugs like acetaminophens, illegal drugs, solvents and inhalants. Substance use is not a problem in itself. It becomes a problem when you continue the use even when the substances cause harm to you physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, legally or even financially.
Addiction:
Problematic use of a substance can lead to addiction. According to Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, addiction can be described by the presence of 4 Cs including:
Signs and symptoms of substance-related disorders may include the following:
- Excessive consumption of substance
- Unable to reduce or control substance use
- Fixated on opportunities to consume substance
- Craving
- Failure to accomplish major responsibilities due to substance use
- Continuing to use substance despite negative social and interpersonal consequences
- Discontinuing important recreational, social and even occupational activities for the sake of substance
- Physical and health problems on the rise due to substance use
- Unable to discontinue even when aware of the consequences
- Withdrawal causes problems
- Substance is consumed to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms
Levels of Substance-use disorders:
Mild
Moderate
Severe
The presence of 2-3 symptoms
The presence of 4-5 symptoms
The presence of 6 or more symptoms
Types of substances and their disorders:
Different types of substances can cause different types of disorders:
1. Alcohol-use disorder: Alcohol is one of the most widely used
substances, especially in Canada. If not consumed appropriately, it can cause problems and lead to alcohol-use disorder.
Harmful effects:
Immediate effects of alcohol can include memory loss, blurred vision, slower reaction times, impaired fine motor skills, loss of balance and other effects on the central nervous system.
Long-term effects of alcohol may cause:
o Physical problems: Many ailments, diseases and health issues have been linked with alcohol use, including heart, liver and pancreatic problems, muscular and bone-related problems, cancer, stroke, stomach problems, fetal alcohol syndrome and many more.
o Psychological problems: Alcohol is a depressant and can lead to change in emotions, causing depression, dependence and other psychological problems related to addiction.
o Social problems: Regular, uncontrolled use of alcohol can cause problems with relationships at work and at home and can also lead to legal issues and financial problems.
2. Caffeine-use disorder: Caffeine is found in many commonly used substances including coffee, tea, chocolates, some soft drinks and some types of medicines. Caffeine use can become a problem when there is a problematic pattern of use that is causing impairment. Some immediate effects of caffeine can be a mild mood elevation and increased alertness.
Harmful effects: Disturbance of sleep, anxiety, digestive issues, hand tremors reduced appetite, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, fatigue, nervousness, headaches, irritability, delirium.
3. Cannabis-use disorder: Cannabis is the general name for marijuana. It is a very commonly used psychotropic drug. Cannabis or marijuana use can cause a negative impact.
Harmful effects:
Short-term effects include a feeling of being ‘high’, changed perception through the senses, altered sense of time, mood swings, impaired thinking, decision-making and impaired memory.
Long-term effects can include:
o Cognitive effects: Continued use can have negative effects on brain development, affecting cognitive abilities (e.g., impaired thinking, memory or learning.
o Physical effects: Respiratory problems, increased heart rate, nausea, impaired child development during pregnancy
o Mental effects: Hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, confusion and other psychotic effects including the worsening or development of disorders like schizophrenia
4. Hallucinogen-use disorder: Hallucinogens are substances that cause sudden, dramatic changes in perception (for instance, seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting and feeling things that are not actually real).
Harmful effects:
Distortion of senses, impulsivity, dangerous risk-taking, hallucinations which can sometimes be frightening, delusions, disorientation, inability to concentrate, jaw-clenching, sweating, increased rates of psychotic disorders, mood disorders and anxiety.
5. Inhalant-use disorder: Inhalants are volatile substances that evaporate when exposed to air. These could include household items like deodorants and sprays, cleaning products, white-outs, glue and even gasoline used in vehicles. Even though these substances can be accidentally inhaled when used, inhalant-use disorder happens when people deliberately breathe in the fumes of these substances in order to experience euphoria, light-headedness and intoxication.
Harmful effects:
Short term effects include hallucinations or delusions, slurred speech, dizziness, impaired judgment, headaches, rashes, loss of coordination.
Long-term effects may include death, the slowing down of body functions, brain damage, damage to heart, liver, kidneys, lung and brain, breathing problems and memory impairment.
6. Opiod-use disorder: This includes drugs like heroin and opioid-based prescription drugs, for example, morphine, hydrocodone, codeine. Opioids can be natural (derived from the opium/poppy plant) or synthetic. Since these drugs are available easily as medication, they pose a high risk. When taken in combination with other drugs or alcohol, their side effects can be intensified.
Harmful effects:
Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, constipation and even unconsciousness.
Long-term effects of opioid-use include restlessness, stomach intolerance, muscular pains, lack of sleep, cold flashes and physical dependence.
7. Sedative, Hypnotic or Anxiolytic use disorder: These substances act as brain suppressants. They can be part of sleeping medications and anti-anxiety medications. In low doses, they produce a calming, drowsy effect and bring feelings of wellbeing. But with inappropriate, non-prescribed use, they can cause serious problems.
Harmful effects:
These can be psychologically harmful causing memory impairment, poor motor coordination, disorientation, confusion, over-sedation.
Overdoses, which are easy to make, can lead to coma, slowed breathing and sometimes seizures. When taken in combination with alcohol or other drugs, they can be life-threatening.
8. Stimulant-use disorder: Stimulants are substances that cause increased alertness, increased ability to stay awake for longer and feelings of euphoria. Some examples include amphetamines and cocaine. They are sometimes used as medications to treat illnesses.
Harmful effects:
Short-term effects include loss of appetite, increased heart rate, dilation of pupils, nausea, panic, “speed psychosis” (symptoms similar to a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia). When the ‘high’ feeling from stimulants wears off, they can cause feelings of depression, irritability, sometimes violent behaviour, sleepiness and craving.
Long-term effects can include serious and often permanent damage to heart and brain, weight loss, hallucinations, strong dependence, depression, possible epilepsy, liver, kidney and lung damage, respiratory problems, pyschosis.
9. Tobacco-use disorder: Nicotine is the substance present in tobacco which can be inhaled (e.g., through cigarettes) or chewed (e.g., through spit tobacco).
Harmful effects:
Cigarette smoke and spit tobacco contains thousands of poisons and can cause cancer. Nicotine is highly habit forming and can be physically hazardous. It can initially cause dizziness and nausea. Withdrawal can lead to irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, depression, restlessness and insomnia.
Long-term use of tobacco can lead to medical complications that can become more severe over time. Regular smokers can die early from tobacco-related illnesses. When consumed during pregnancy, it can cause miscarriages. Cardiovascular illnesses, respiratory problems and cancer are connected with tobacco consumption.
References:
American Addiction Centers (2020). Physical health consequences of Alcoholism.
Bergland, C. (2015). Alcoholism: What are the Eleven Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder? Psychology Today
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (2020). Addiction.
Hartney, E. (2019). Inhalant Use disorder in the DSM-5
HealthLinkBC (2019). Substance Use.
Mental Health Commission of Canada (2010). Mental Health first aid material.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2019). Marijuana.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US) (2016). Substance Use Disorders. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationThere's much to see here. So, take your time, look around, and learn all there is to know about us. We hope you enjoy our site and take a moment to drop us a line.
Anxiety is a normal reaction in our day-to-day life. It helps us to keep our life organized, stay safe and solve problems quickly. Anxiety can be experienced at various times in our life, including special events or occasions, sudden changes or transitions, significant life situations and also for smaller things like meeting deadlines, handling job pressure, anticipating or participating in social situations etc.
Sometimes anxiety can become a problem. This happens when people start to experience anxiety more frequently and more intensely. As it increases in severity, it can make a person feel uncomfortable and cause feelings of uneasiness. It can also last for longer durations than normal.
Anxiety can turn into a disorder if it presents certain signs and symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms that Anxiety might be turning into a Disorder:
· Severe anxiety
· More frequent anxiety
· Long-lasting anxiety
· Anxiety that affects productivity (e.g., at work or school)
· Anxiety that interferes with ability to function smoothly (e.g., social situations)
· Anxiety that occurs in the absence of any apparent anxiety-causing factor
· Heightened emotional state even in calm situations
· A combination of some of the factors above
What are Anxiety-related disorders:
When anxiety begins to show signs and symptoms of becoming disruptive through some of the characteristics discussed above, it turns into a mental illness. It can cause distress and can make it hard to live a normal life.
General signs and symptoms of anxiety-related disorders:
Physical:
· Racing heart, heart palpitations
· Tight or tense muscles
· Jaw clenching
· Stomach issues (diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting)
· Headaches, dizziness, vertigo
· Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
· Shortness of breath
Psychological:
· Panic, sense of fear, uneasiness, restlessness
· Excessive worry
· Problems with concentration
· Memory problems
· Unable to relax
· Easily distractible
· Sleep disturbances (lack of sleep, powerful or vivid dreams)
Types of anxiety-related disorders:
Some anxiety-related disorders are as follows:
1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
People experiencing GAD might show the following symptoms:
· Excessive worry involving thoughts about negative events
· Uncontrollable thoughts about ‘what could go wrong’ that keep going in a chain-like cycle
· Constant worry about minor things like being on time, about relationships, health, work, school, household chores etc.
· Difficulty concentrating
· Fidgetiness, restlessness
· Muscle tension
· Irritability
· Muscle pains often in the neck and shoulder
· Disturbed patterns of sleep
· Excessive reassurance-seeking (asking for many people’s opinions about minor matters)
2. Agoraphobia:
Agoraphobia is the fear of avoiding spaces in which the person feels as if he or she might not be able to escape or find help if something happened. They are usually trying to avoid becoming embarrassed or avoid having a panic attack. It is an out-of-proportion, intense feeling.
Some situations that these people might avoid could include: using public transportation, going outside of home alone, standing in lines, being in crowds, being in enclosed spaces.
3. Panic Attack:
A panic attack is usually symbolized by a sudden rush of terrifying fear or discomfort, accompanied by at least four of the following symptoms:
· Shaking or trembling
· Racing or pounding heart
· Nausea
· Chills or hot flashes
· Numbness or tingling sensations
· Dizziness or feeling of being unsteady
· Feeling ‘flat’, detached from reality
· Fear of dying without any immediate cause of the fear
· Fear of losing control
Panic attacks are quick to begin and aggravate quickly within 10 minutes. They usually do not last in intensity for longer than 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Panic Disorder:
When repeated panic attacks begin to happen, they can turn into a panic disorder. Often these panic attacks can be unexpected and unpredictable. People with panic disorder are fearful of having sudden panic attacks and often change their day-to-day behaviours in order to feel safer. For example:
· Carry medication
· Not go alone
· Avoid physical activities
· Avoid certain foods
· Avoid going into crowds
· Sit near exits
· Likely to seek professional help more quickly
5. Social Anxiety Disorder:
People with social anxiety disorder have an excessive fear of being judged or criticized because of which they are nervous and uncomfortable in social situations. They are very self-conscious and constantly feel that they are being watched or judged.
People with social anxiety disorders have difficulty with the following social situations:
· Speaking in public
· Dating
· Asserting one’s opinion
· Returning something at a store
· Using public washrooms
· Participating in group discussions
· Asking questions
· Eating in front of others
· Entering a room where everyone is already seated
· Talking to supervisors
· Attending parties
6. Specific Phobia
Phobia is an excessive, irrational fear about a specific situation, place or thing. A person with a phobia will generally avoid experiencing that specific situation, place or thing, due to the terrifying feeling. Many adults experience phobias.
Some examples of phobia might include the fear of:
· Specific natural conditions (e.g., heights, lightning, being close to water bodies, thunderstorms)
· Specific animals (e.g., spiders, bugs, mice, snakes)
· Specific medical situations (e.g., injections, seeing blood)
· Specific situations (e.g., confined spaces, dark, travelling on planes)
7. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD involves two types of feelings that often go together, but can also happen individually:
Obsessions: unwanted or disturbing thoughts, ideas or sensations that sometimes seem to appear out of nowhere and get fixated in the mind
Compulsions: behaviours or mental acts that a person feels driven to do repeatedly in order to reduce the anxiety caused by the obsessions. Some compulsions might include hand-washing, checking on things repeatedly (e.g., whether door is locked, stove is turned off etc) or cleaning.
For people experiencing OCD, the obsessions and compulsions can make it very hard to function smoothly in daily life. It affects normal routines and social interactions.
References:
Anxiety Canada (2020). Anxiety in adults.
Mental Health Commission of Canada (2010). Mental Health first aid material.
American Psychiatric Association (2020). What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Mood-related disorders are mental health conditions in which a person’s mood and emotions do not seem to be in control. People with mood-related disorders might experience a great amount of distress. Their mood disturbances might cause them to be ineffective in everyday life. This mental health problem could lead to other problems, for example, physical, social, employment, finances etc.
Two types of mood related disorders are depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.
1. Depressive Disorder:
This is commonly known as ‘depression’. Depression causes a persistent feeling of sadness, hopelessness and loss of interest.
Signs and symptoms of Depression:
Emotional signs:
· Consistently sad, despairing mood for long periods of time
· Negative opinion of self
· Hopelessness
· Despairing mood
· Sense of worthlessness or guilt
· Low self-esteem
· Feeling lonely
· Crying easily
· Suicidal thoughts
Social signs:
· Withdrawal from family and friends
· Loss of interest in people
Physical signs:
· Changes in weight
· Sleep problems
· Sluggishness, decreased energy or fatigue
· Trouble making decision
Causes and risk factors that could lead to depression:
Physiological factors
· Chemical imbalances in brain
· Chronic pain
· Certain medical conditions (e.g., liver disease, thyroid disorders, heart diseases, multiple sclerosis etc.)
· Hormone fluctuations in the body
Lifestyle Risk factors
· Diet and nutrition
· Stress due to a certain event, for example: a break-up, a conflict, being the victim of a crime, loss of job, diagnosis of an illness etc.
· Grief and loss of a loved one
· Substance use
· Natural disturbances of circadian rhythm (e.g., change of sunlight patterns due to seasonal changes)
Genetic factors
· Family history of depression
2. Bipolar Disorder:
Bipolar disorder can sometimes be seen as a psychotic disorder as well. It is a medical condition in which a person experiences a high state of mania (elevated mood) and a low state of depression in a cycle. These are not just mood changes as experienced normally in our lives, but are often extreme states. These are accompanied by periods of ‘well state’ of normal mood in between the manic and depressive cycles.
Signs and symptoms of Bipolar Disorder:
Manic state: Feelings of being unreasonably extraordinary and great, excessive energy, super-motivated, heightened risk-taking capacity, poor judgment, elevated mood, irritability, racing thoughts, easily distracted
Depressive state: Depressed mood, lack of energy, lack of interest or motivation, sleep-related problems, feelings of worthlessness, suicidal thoughts
Causes and risk factors that could lead to Bipolar Disorder:
· Biochemical factors (e.g., chemical imbalances in the brain) are associated with manic and depressive states
· Stress can enhance the condition or act as a trigger in vulnerable people
· Drug use, whether through prescription medication or through inappropriate substance use, can cause episodes of mania
· Family history of Bipolar Disorder can put an individual at a higher risk of developing this condition
References:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (2013). Bipolar Disorder: An Information Guide.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (2020). Depression
Mental Health Commission of Canada (2010). Mental Health first aid material.
Schimelpfening, N. (2020). Causes and risk factors of depression. Very Well Mind
What is Trauma:
Trauma is a condition in which a person experiences challenging emotional consequences as a result of a distressing event. Traumatic events can have different effects on different people.
Examples of traumatic events may include
- a recent event that has caused intense distress (e.g., a car accident, being the victim of a crime, natural disaster)
- a distressing event from the past (e.g, the death of a loved one, a sexual assault, military combat)
- long-term distressing situations which a person has been through (e.g., ongoing abuse)
Signs and Symptoms of Trauma-related disorders:
· Re-living the trauma event over and over through memories, flashbacks and dreams
· Feeling upset and uneasy when reminded of the event
· Avoiding situations that remind of the trauma
· Losing interest in people, places and activities
· Restlessness
· Difficulty concentrating
· Angry, irritable, outbursts of rage
· Fearful of others’ intentions
· Unable to feel emotions
· Sleeping problems
· Sudden attacks of dizziness, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat
1. Acute Stress Disorder:
Acute Stress Disorder is a mental condition that can occur usually in the first month following a traumatic event. It is sometimes considered to be an anxiety-related disorder as well. The symptoms begin to resolve within a month or so. Sometimes the condition might continue and develop into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
2. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
Following a tragic, frightening or traumatic experience, a person could develop an emotional response in which the thoughts, feelings and memories of the traumatic experience continue to affect the person. When the symptoms of a trauma disorder continue for more than a month, then it can be termed as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
References:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (2020). Posttraumatic stress disorder
Grohol, J.M. (2019). Acute Stress Disorder Syndrome. Psych Central
Mental Health Commission of Canada (2010). Mental Health first aid material
National Institute of Mental Health (2016). Post-traumatic stress disorder