9781422275894

MOOD DISORDERS Mood disorders are mental health problems that affect how a person feels emotionally. Depression is one of the most common mood disorders. A person suffering from depression feels despaired, lonely, unhappy, and hopeless for a long time. It is perfectly normal to have these feelings from time to time, and if something bad happens in a person’s life (such as the death of a loved one), that person might feel despair for some time. That doesn’t mean the person

has a mood disorder. Depression is a condition in which bad feelings continue and don’t have any clear connection to the person’s circumstances. PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS Psychotic disorders are severe mental illnesses in which a person suffers from abnormal thinking and perceptions. Schizophrenia is a lifelong psychotic disorder. People suffering from this disease hallucinate, see and hear things that are not there, and may feel that someone else is controlling their actions.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Mental illnesses are brain disorders. They aren’t related to a person’s intelligence or character and can’t be overcome by willpower. • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder that is triggered by the changing seasons of the year. It usually happens in the winter when there are fewer hours of sunlight.

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