Mental Health Basics

Here are simple definitions of basic mental health terms with a link attached to each word that can give you more information and short self-assessments:

Trauma

Trauma is the emotional, mental, and physical response to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience, which can be a single event or something that happens over and over. Think of it like a shock to your system that is hard to recover from, even after the event is over. The experience overwhelms your ability to cope, and the effects can linger, making you feel unsafe, worried, or on edge long after the danger has passed.

Depression

Depression is much more than just having a bad day or feeling sad; it’s a persistent feeling of hopelessness, sadness, or emptiness that can last for weeks or months. It's a mood disorder that can make even simple daily tasks feel incredibly difficult, and it can steal your interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy. It might also show up as changes in your sleep, appetite, or energy levels.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of fear, worry, and unease, but in an ongoing and overwhelming way that is out of proportion to a situation. While everyone feels anxious sometimes, an anxiety disorder means these feelings don't go away and can interfere with daily life, creating a constant sense of dread, restlessness, or worry about potential future threats. It can also manifest as physical symptoms, like a racing heart, shortness of breath, or stomach problems.

Addiction

Addiction is a chronic disease where a person has a powerful, overwhelming urge to use a substance or engage in a behavior, even though they know it is causing harm. It's not about a lack of willpower; it’s a medical condition that changes the brain's reward system, making it very difficult to stop without help. People who are addicted may struggle to control their behavior and often continue despite negative consequences for their health, relationships, and finances.

Grief

Grief is the natural and powerful emotional response to losing someone or something important, like the death of a loved one, a divorce, or the loss of a job. It's a deeply painful process that can bring on a mix of emotions, including sadness, anger, and confusion. While everyone grieves differently and there’s no right or wrong way to feel, if the process becomes so overwhelming that it prevents you from functioning for a very long time, it can become a form of complicated grief.

ADHD

ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and it's a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a person’s ability to focus, control impulses, and regulate their energy. People with ADHD aren't just lazy or unfocused; their brains are wired differently, which can make it hard to stay on task, get organized, or sit still. It can make daily life a challenge at school, work, and in relationships, but with the right support, people with ADHD can thrive.

OCD

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety-related condition where a person experiences unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that trigger significant anxiety. To calm that anxiety, they feel driven to perform repetitive behaviors or rituals (compulsions), such as repeatedly checking locks, washing hands, or organizing things. These rituals provide only temporary relief, creating a cycle that can take up a huge amount of time and interfere with daily life.

Personality Disorders

A personality disorder involves long-lasting and unhealthy patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that are different from what is expected in a person's culture. These patterns make it difficult to deal with everyday stress and can cause major problems in relationships and other parts of life. People with these disorders often don't see their own patterns as the problem, instead thinking that other people or the world around them are the issue.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, (formerly known as manic-depression), is a group of conditions marked by a short highly erratic phase called a manic episode, immediately followed by a longer low period of debilitating depression. These episodes typically involve wild shifts in mood and energy, leading to impaired functioning.

If you didn’t find what you were looking for, please visit the Psychology Today page for a full list of terms, as well as a directory of therapists that can help you filter through their areas of expertise.