Let’s cut straight to it: mental health affects one in four people in the UK each year, yet most of us couldn’t name more than a handful of mental disorders, let alone explain what they actually involve. If you’re here, you’re probably looking for answers – maybe for yourself, maybe for someone you care about, or maybe you’re just tired of feeling confused by all the psychiatric terminology thrown around.
I’m going to walk you through the major mental disorders, what causes them, how to recognize them, and most importantly, what actually works to treat them. No fluff, no judgment – just the information you need to understand mental health conditions properly.
Understanding Mental Disorders: The Basics
Before we dive into specific conditions, let’s establish what we’re actually talking about. A mental disorder is a health condition that significantly disrupts how you think, feel, behave, or relate to others. It’s not just having a bad day or feeling stressed – it’s persistent symptoms that interfere with your daily life, relationships, or ability to function.
Mental disorders are classified using two main systems: the DSM-5 (used primarily in the US) and the ICD-11 (used in the UK and internationally by the NHS). These classification systems group hundreds of conditions into categories based on shared features.
Anxiety Disorders: When Worry Takes Over
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions worldwide, affecting roughly 8 million people in the UK alone. But here’s the thing – anxiety itself is normal. It’s your brain’s alarm system. Anxiety becomes a disorder when it’s excessive, persistent, and interferes with your life.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
This is chronic, excessive worry about everyday things – work, health, finances, family – that’s difficult to control and lasts for at least six months.
Symptoms:
- Constant restlessness or feeling on edge
- Being easily fatigued
- Difficulty concentrating; mind goes blank
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Sleep disturbances
- Physical symptoms: rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, nausea
Panic Disorder
Characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks – sudden surges of intense fear that peak within minutes.
Symptoms during a panic attack:
- Heart palpitations or accelerated heart rate
- Sweating and trembling
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Feeling of choking
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fear of losing control or dying
- Numbness or tingling sensations
Social Anxiety Disorder
Intense fear of social situations where you might be judged, embarrassed, or scrutinized by others.
Symptoms:
- Extreme fear of interacting with strangers
- Fear of situations where you might be judged
- Worrying for days or weeks before a social event
- Physical symptoms in social situations: blushing, trembling, nausea
- Avoiding social situations entirely
Specific Phobias
Intense, irrational fear of specific objects or situations (heights, flying, spiders, blood, etc.).
What Causes Anxiety Disorders?
Biological factors:
- Genetics – anxiety disorders run in families
- Brain chemistry – imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA
- Brain structure – the amygdala (fear center) may be overactive
Environmental factors:
- Childhood trauma or adversity
- Stressful life events
- Chronic medical conditions
- Substance use or withdrawal
Psychological factors:
- Personality traits (perfectionism, need for control)
- Learned behaviors from family or environment.
Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
Psychological therapies:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the gold standard. It teaches you to identify anxiety-triggering thoughts, challenge them, and develop healthier thought patterns. It also involves exposure therapy – gradually facing feared situations in a controlled way to reduce anxiety response.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps you accept anxiety rather than fighting it, while committing to actions aligned with your values.
Medications:
- SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) like sertraline, fluoxetine, or escitalopram are first-line treatments
- SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors) like venlafaxine
- Benzodiazepines (diazepam, lorazepam) for short-term relief only – highly addictive
- Beta-blockers for physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat
Self-management strategies:
- Regular exercise (30 minutes most days)
- Relaxation techniques: deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Limiting caffeine and alcohol
- Maintaining regular sleep patterns
Success rates: 60-80% of people with anxiety disorders respond well to treatment, especially when combining therapy and medication.
Mood Disorders: When Emotions Go to Extremes
Mood disorders primarily affect your emotional state, causing persistent periods of extreme sadness or extreme happiness, or fluctuating between both.
Major Depressive Disorder (Depression)
Depression affects around 280 million people globally. It’s not just feeling sad – it’s a persistent low mood that affects every aspect of your life.
Core symptoms (need at least 5, lasting 2+ weeks):
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
- Loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities
- Significant weight loss or gain (without dieting)
- Insomnia or sleeping too much
- Psychomotor agitation or slowing
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
What causes depression?
Biological:
- Genetic vulnerability (40% heritable)
- Neurotransmitter imbalances (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine)
- Brain structure changes (smaller hippocampus, reduced prefrontal cortex activity)
- Hormonal factors (thyroid problems, postpartum changes)
Psychological:
- Negative thinking patterns
- Low self-esteem
- History of trauma or abuse
- Personality traits (pessimism, high self-criticism)
Environmental:
- Major life stresses (bereavement, divorce, job loss)
- Chronic illness or pain
- Social isolation
- Financial problems
- Childhood adversity
Treatment for depression:
Psychological therapies:
CBT helps identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that maintain depression.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on improving relationships and communication patterns.
Behavioral Activation encourages engagement in meaningful activities to improve mood.
Medications:
- SSRIs (sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine) – first choice, fewer side effects
- SNRIs (venlafaxine, duloxetine) – for more severe depression
- Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline) – older medications, more side effects
- MAOIs (phenelzine) – rarely used, require dietary restrictions
- Atypical antidepressants (mirtazapine, bupropion)
Antidepressants typically take 4-6 weeks to show full effect. About 50-60% respond to the first medication tried.
Other treatments:
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) for severe, treatment-resistant depression
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) – non-invasive brain stimulation
- Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder
- Exercise programs – proven as effective as medication for mild-moderate depression
Bipolar Disorder
Previously called manic depression, bipolar disorder involves extreme mood swings between manic (high) episodes and depressive (low) episodes.
Manic episode symptoms:
- Abnormally elevated or irritable mood lasting at least one week
- Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
- Decreased need for sleep (feels rested after 3 hours)
- More talkative than usual; pressure to keep talking
- Racing thoughts; flight of ideas
- Distractibility
- Increased goal-directed activity
- Excessive involvement in risky activities (spending sprees, sexual indiscretions, foolish investments)
Hypomanic episodes (Bipolar II) are less severe and don’t cause major impairment.
Depressive episodes in bipolar disorder look identical to major depression.
What causes bipolar disorder?
- Highly genetic (80-90% heritable) – strongest genetic link of all mental disorders
- Brain structure differences in areas regulating mood and impulse control
- Neurotransmitter dysregulation affecting dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine
- Stress can trigger episodes in vulnerable individuals
- Sleep disruption often triggers manic episodes
Treatment for bipolar disorder:
Medications (essential for management):
- Mood stabilizers: lithium (gold standard), valproate, carbamazepine
- Atypical antipsychotics: quetiapine, olanzapine, aripiprazole
- Antidepressants: used cautiously with mood stabilizers (can trigger mania)
Psychological therapies:
- Psychoeducation – understanding the condition and recognizing warning signs
- CBT – managing symptoms and maintaining stability
- Family-focused therapy – improving family communication and support
- Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy – maintaining regular daily routines and sleep patterns
Lifestyle management:
- Strict sleep schedule (disruption triggers episodes)
- Avoiding drugs and alcohol
- Stress management
- Mood monitoring and early intervention
Success rates: With proper treatment, 70-80% achieve good symptom control and quality of life.
Comparing depression and bipolar disorder
| Feature | Major Depression | Bipolar Disorder |
| Mood episodes | Only depressive | Both manic/hypomanic and depressive |
| Duration of episodes | Weeks to months | Days to months |
| Energy levels | Consistently low | Alternates between high and low |
| First-line treatment | Antidepressants + therapy | Mood stabilizers + therapy |
| Genetic component | 40% heritable | 80-90% heritable |
| Typical onset age | Any age, peak 20s-30s | Late teens to early 20s |
Psychotic Disorders: When Reality Becomes Distorted
Psychotic disorders involve disconnection from reality through hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the population worldwide. It’s one of the most misunderstood mental disorders, often portrayed inaccurately in media.
Positive symptoms (additions to normal experience):
- Hallucinations: Seeing, hearing, feeling, or smelling things that aren’t there (auditory hallucinations most common – hearing voices)
- Delusions: Fixed false beliefs (paranoia, grandiosity, persecution)
- Disorganized speech: Jumping between unrelated topics, making no sense
- Disorganized or catatonic behavior: Unusual movements, complete lack of response
Negative symptoms (reductions in normal functioning):
- Flat affect (reduced emotional expression)
- Alogia (poverty of speech)
- Avolition (lack of motivation)
- Anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)
- Social withdrawal
Cognitive symptoms:
- Poor executive functioning
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Impaired abstract thinking
What causes schizophrenia?
Genetic factors:
- 80% heritable
- If one parent has schizophrenia: 10% risk
- If both parents: 40% risk
- Identical twin: 50% risk
- Multiple genes involved (no single “schizophrenia gene”)
Brain abnormalities:
- Enlarged ventricles (fluid-filled spaces)
- Reduced gray matter in frontal and temporal lobes
- Dopamine system dysfunction (dopamine hypothesis)
- Glutamate system abnormalities
Environmental factors:
- Prenatal complications (maternal infection, malnutrition)
- Birth complications (oxygen deprivation)
- Urban upbringing
- Cannabis use in adolescence (doubles risk)
- Childhood trauma
- Social adversity and migration
The “stress-diathesis model”: Genetic vulnerability + environmental stressors = schizophrenia develops
Treatment for schizophrenia:
Antipsychotic medications (essential):
First-generation (typical) antipsychotics:
- Haloperidol, chlorpromazine
- Block dopamine receptors
- More side effects (movement disorders)
Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics:
- Risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole, clozapine
- Affect dopamine and serotonin
- Fewer movement side effects but weight gain common
- Clozapine most effective but requires blood monitoring
Psychological therapies:
CBT for psychosis helps manage distressing symptoms, challenge delusional beliefs, and cope with hallucinations.
Family therapy educates families and improves communication (reduces relapse by 20-50%).
Social skills training improves social functioning and independence.
Supported employment helps maintain work.
Other treatments:
- Early intervention services dramatically improve outcomes when treatment starts early
- Community mental health teams provide ongoing support
- Depot injections (long-acting medications) for people who struggle with daily tablets
Outcomes:
- 20-30% achieve good recovery with minimal symptoms
- 30-40% experience moderate symptoms but can function independently
- 30-40% have severe persistent symptoms requiring ongoing support
- Early treatment significantly improves prognosis
Personality Disorders: Enduring Patterns That Cause Distress
Personality disorders involve long-standing, inflexible patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that differ significantly from cultural expectations and cause distress or impairment.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
One of the most common personality disorders, affecting 1-2% of people.
Core symptoms:
- Intense fear of abandonment; frantic efforts to avoid it
- Unstable, intense relationships that alternate between idealization and devaluation
- Unstable self-image or sense of self
- Impulsivity in at least two self-damaging areas (spending, sex, substance use, reckless driving, binge eating)
- Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, threats, or self-harm
- Emotional instability (intense mood swings lasting hours to days)
- Chronic feelings of emptiness
- Intense, inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger
- Stress-related paranoid thoughts or severe dissociative symptoms
What causes BPD?
- Genetic factors (40-70% heritable)
- Childhood trauma (especially invalidating environments, abuse, neglect)
- Brain differences in emotion regulation areas (amygdala, prefrontal cortex)
- Attachment disruptions in early childhood
Treatment for BPD:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is the gold standard, specifically designed for BPD. It teaches four key skills:
- Mindfulness (staying present)
- Distress tolerance (coping with crisis without making it worse)
- Emotion regulation (understanding and managing emotions)
- Interpersonal effectiveness (communicating needs, maintaining relationships)
Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT) helps develop the ability to understand your own and others’ mental states.
Schema Therapy addresses deep-rooted patterns from childhood.
Medications: No specific medication for BPD, but antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics may help specific symptoms.
Outcomes: With proper treatment, especially DBT, 50% no longer meet criteria for BPD after 2 years, 85% after 10 years.
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
Characterized by persistent disregard for others’ rights, violation of social norms, and lack of empathy.
Symptoms:
- Failure to conform to social norms; repeatedly breaking laws
- Deceitfulness (lying, conning others for profit or pleasure)
- Impulsivity; failure to plan ahead
- Irritability and aggressiveness
- Reckless disregard for safety of self or others
- Consistent irresponsibility
- Lack of remorse
Treatment: Very challenging. Therapeutic communities, CBT focusing on consequences of behavior, and anger management may help. No effective medications.
Other Personality Disorders
Cluster A (Odd/Eccentric):
- Paranoid: Distrust and suspiciousness
- Schizoid: Detachment from relationships, restricted emotions
- Schizotypal: Discomfort with relationships, cognitive/perceptual distortions
Cluster B (Dramatic/Emotional):
- Narcissistic: Grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy
- Histrionic: Excessive emotionality and attention-seeking
Cluster C (Anxious/Fearful):
- Avoidant: Social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, hypersensitivity to criticism
- Dependent: Excessive need to be taken care of, submissive behavior
- Obsessive-Compulsive: Preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, control
Neurodevelopmental Disorders: When the Brain Develops Differently
These conditions typically emerge in childhood and affect how the brain develops and functions.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Affects 5% of children and 2.5% of adults. It’s not just “being hyper” – it’s a neurological condition affecting executive function.
Three main types:
Predominantly Inattentive:
- Difficulty sustaining attention
- Doesn’t seem to listen
- Fails to finish tasks
- Difficulty organizing
- Avoids tasks requiring sustained mental effort
- Loses things frequently
- Easily distracted
- Forgetful in daily activities
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive:
- Fidgets, taps, squirms
- Leaves seat when expected to remain seated
- Runs or climbs inappropriately
- Unable to engage quietly in activities
- “On the go” as if “driven by a motor”
- Talks excessively
- Blurts out answers
- Difficulty waiting turn
- Interrupts or intrudes on others
Combined Type: Both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms
What causes ADHD?
- Highly genetic (70-80% heritable)
- Brain differences: Smaller prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia; delayed maturation
- Neurotransmitter dysfunction: Dopamine and norepinephrine systems
- Environmental factors: Premature birth, low birth weight, prenatal exposure to toxins (lead, alcohol, tobacco)
Treatment for ADHD:
Medications:
Stimulants (first-line, 70-80% response rate):
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
- Amphetamines (Adderall, Vyvanse)
- Work by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine
Non-stimulants:
- Atomoxetine (Strattera)
- Guanfacine or clonidine
- Used when stimulants ineffective or not tolerated
Behavioral interventions:
- Parent training programs
- Behavioral classroom management
- Organizational skills training
- CBT for adults with ADHD
Accommodations:
- Extra time on exams
- Quiet workspace
- Written instructions
- Breaking tasks into smaller chunks
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
A neurodevelopmental condition affecting how people communicate, interact socially, and experience the world. Affects about 1 in 100 people.
Core features:
Social communication difficulties:
- Difficulty with back-and-forth conversation
- Reduced sharing of interests or emotions
- Difficulty understanding or using non-verbal communication (eye contact, facial expressions, body language)
- Difficulty developing and maintaining relationships
Restricted, repetitive behaviors:
- Stereotyped or repetitive movements, speech, or object use
- Insistence on sameness; inflexible adherence to routines
- Highly restricted, fixated interests
- Hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory input
What causes autism?
- Highly genetic (80-90% heritable)
- Multiple genes involved (no single autism gene)
- Brain differences: Altered connectivity, different developmental trajectory
- Advanced parental age increases risk slightly
- NOT caused by vaccines (this myth has been thoroughly debunked)
Treatment for autism:
No “cure” – focus is on support and skill development:
Behavioral interventions:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): Intensive therapy teaching skills through reinforcement
- Social skills training
- Communication interventions: Speech and language therapy
- Occupational therapy: For sensory issues and daily living skills
Educational support:
- Individualized education plans
- Structured learning environments
- Visual supports
Medications:
- No medication treats core autism features
- Medications may help co-occurring conditions (anxiety, ADHD, irritability)
Outcomes: Hugely variable. With proper support, many autistic people lead independent, fulfilling lives. Others require lifelong support. Early intervention improves outcomes.
Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Develops after exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Affects 3-4% of people at some point.
Symptom clusters:
Intrusion symptoms:
- Recurrent, involuntary, distressing memories
- Traumatic nightmares
- Flashbacks (feeling like the trauma is happening again)
- Intense psychological distress at trauma reminders
- Physical reactions to reminders (sweating, rapid heartbeat)
Avoidance:
- Avoiding trauma-related thoughts, feelings, or memories
- Avoiding external reminders (people, places, activities, objects)
Negative alterations in cognition and mood:
- Inability to remember key aspects of trauma
- Persistent negative beliefs about self, others, world
- Persistent blame of self or others
- Persistent negative emotional state
- Diminished interest in activities
- Feeling detached from others
- Inability to experience positive emotions
Alterations in arousal and reactivity:
- Irritability or aggression
- Reckless or self-destructive behavior
- Hypervigilance
- Exaggerated startle response
- Concentration problems
- Sleep disturbances
What causes PTSD?
Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. Risk factors include:
- Severity and duration of trauma
- Proximity to trauma
- Previous trauma history
- Lack of social support
- Additional life stresses
- History of mental health problems
- Genetic vulnerability
Treatment for PTSD:
Trauma-focused psychological therapies (most effective):
Trauma-Focused CBT: Teaches coping skills, then gradually exposes you to trauma memories in a safe environment to process them.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or sounds) while processing traumatic memories. Highly effective – 77-90% success rate.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy: Systematic, repeated exposure to trauma memories and reminders to reduce fear response.
Cognitive Processing Therapy: Identifies and modifies unhelpful beliefs about trauma.
Medications:
- SSRIs (sertraline, paroxetine) – first-line medication
- SNRIs (venlafaxine)
- Prazosin for nightmares
Outcomes: 60-80% show significant improvement with evidence-based treatment. Early intervention improves outcomes.
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Affects 1-2% of people. It’s not about being tidy or organized – it’s intrusive, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) done to reduce anxiety.
Common obsessions:
- Contamination fears
- Fear of harming self or others
- Unwanted forbidden thoughts (sexual, religious, violent)
- Need for symmetry or exactness
- Fear of losing important items
Common compulsions:
- Excessive washing or cleaning
- Checking (locks, appliances, safety)
- Counting or repeating actions
- Ordering or arranging
- Mental rituals (praying, counting, repeating words)
- Seeking reassurance
What causes OCD?
- Genetic component (45-65% heritable)
- Brain abnormalities: Overactive circuits connecting orbitofrontal cortex, striatum, thalamus
- Serotonin dysfunction
- Environmental factors: Childhood trauma, infections (rare PANDAS – pediatric autoimmune condition)
Treatment for OCD:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) – the gold standard therapy:
- Gradual exposure to feared situations/objects
- Prevention of compulsive responses
- Learning that anxiety decreases naturally without rituals
- 70% respond well to ERP
Medications:
- SSRIs at higher doses than for depression (fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine)
- Clomipramine (tricyclic antidepressant) – most effective but more side effects
- Often combined with ERP for best results
Outcomes: With proper treatment, 50-70% achieve significant symptom reduction.
Eating Disorders: When Food and Body Image Become Obsessions
Anorexia Nervosa
Characterized by restriction of food intake leading to significantly low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and distorted body image.
Symptoms:
- Restriction of energy intake leading to significantly low body weight
- Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
- Disturbance in experiencing body weight or shape
- Denial of seriousness of current low body weight
- Excessive exercise
- Preoccupation with food, calories, weight
Physical complications: Organ damage, bone loss, heart problems, infertility, death (highest mortality rate of any mental disorder – 5-10%)
Bulimia Nervosa
Recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors.
Symptoms:
- Recurrent binge eating (eating large amounts in discrete time period with sense of lack of control)
- Recurrent compensatory behaviors (self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, fasting, excessive exercise)
- Self-evaluation unduly influenced by body shape and weight
- Episodes occur at least once weekly for 3 months
Binge Eating Disorder
Recurrent binge eating without regular compensatory behaviors.
What causes eating disorders?
Biological:
- Genetic factors (50-80% heritable)
- Neurotransmitter imbalances (serotonin)
- Temperament (perfectionism, anxiety)
Psychological:
- Low self-esteem
- Perfectionism
- Body dissatisfaction
- History of trauma or abuse
Sociocultural:
- Cultural emphasis on thinness
- Media images
- Weight-based teasing
- Participation in appearance-focused activities (modeling, dance, wrestling)
Treatment for eating disorders:
Nutritional rehabilitation: Restoring healthy weight and eating patterns (essential first step)
Psychological therapies:
Family-Based Treatment (FBT) – most effective for adolescents with anorexia. Parents take active role in re-feeding.
CBT-Enhanced (CBT-E) – specifically designed for eating disorders; addresses eating behaviors, body image, and maintaining factors.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – particularly for bulimia and binge eating disorder with emotion regulation difficulties.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) – addresses relationship issues maintaining eating disorder.
Medications:
- Fluoxetine (Prozac) – only FDA-approved medication for bulimia nervosa
- Antidepressants may help depression and anxiety
- Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) – approved for binge eating disorder
Hospitalization: May be necessary for medical stabilization in severe anorexia.
Outcomes:
- Bulimia: 50-70% full recovery
- Binge eating disorder: 60-80% respond to treatment
- Anorexia: 50-70% eventually recover, but often takes years; 20% develop chronic anorexia
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
Addiction involves compulsive use of substances or behaviors despite harmful consequences.
Common substance use disorders:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Cannabis use disorder
- Stimulant use disorders (cocaine, amphetamines)
- Opioid use disorder
- Sedative/hypnotic use disorder
- Tobacco use disorder
Core features of addiction:
- Taking substance in larger amounts or longer than intended
- Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down
- Great deal of time spent obtaining, using, or recovering from substance
- Craving
- Failure to fulfill major obligations due to use
- Continued use despite social or interpersonal problems
- Giving up activities due to use
- Use in physically hazardous situations
- Continued use despite physical or psychological problems
- Tolerance (need more to achieve effect)
- Withdrawal symptoms
What causes addiction?
Biological:
- Genetic vulnerability (40-60% heritable)
- Brain reward system hijacked by substances
- Changes in dopamine, glutamate, GABA systems
Psychological:
- Co-occurring mental health disorders
- Trauma history
- Poor coping skills
Social:
- Peer influence
- Availability
- Socioeconomic factors
- Adverse childhood experiences
Treatment for addiction:
Detoxification: Medical supervision during withdrawal (essential for alcohol and benzodiazepines – can be life-threatening)
Psychological interventions:
Motivational Interviewing – resolves ambivalence about change
CBT – identifies triggers, develops coping strategies, prevents relapse
Contingency Management – provides tangible rewards for abstinence
12-Step Programs (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous) – peer support, ongoing recovery
Medications:
For alcohol use disorder:
- Naltrexone – reduces cravings and pleasure from drinking
- Acamprosate – reduces withdrawal symptoms
- Disulfiram – causes unpleasant reaction if alcohol consumed
For opioid use disorder:
- Methadone or buprenorphine – maintenance therapy
- Naltrexone – blocks opioid effects
For tobacco:
- Nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum)
- Varenicline (Champix) or bupropion
Outcomes: Addiction is often chronic and relapsing, but treatment works. Multiple treatment episodes often needed. Long-term recovery is absolutely possible with proper support.
Getting Help: What You Need to Know
Understanding mental disorders is crucial, but knowing where to turn for help is equally important.
In the UK, start here:
Your GP is the first point of contact. They can:
- Assess your symptoms
- Provide initial treatment
- Refer to specialist services
- Prescribe medications
NHS mental health services include:
- IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) – self-referral for talking therapies
- Community Mental Health Teams – for severe or complex conditions
- Crisis teams – urgent support
- Early Intervention in Psychosis teams
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Private options:
- Private therapists and psychiatrists
- Online therapy platforms
- Workplace Employee Assistance Programs
Crisis support:
- Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7)
- Shout: Text 85258
- NHS 111 (option 2 for mental health)
- Emergency: 999 or A&E
Remember: Mental disorders are medical conditions. They have identifiable causes, recognized symptoms, and effective treatments. Whether you’re experiencing symptoms yourself or supporting someone else, professional help is available and recovery is possible.
Early intervention improves outcomes dramatically. Don’t wait until you’re in crisis. If symptoms are interfering with your life, affecting your relationships, or causing distress, reach out. You deserve support, and effective treatment can make an enormous difference.
What questions do you still have about mental disorders? Have you or someone you know experienced any of these conditions? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments – your experience might help someone else take that first step toward getting help.