There are a range of anxiety disorders characterised by mild or severe feelings of unease. Anxiety is a normal emotion during certain times in an individual’s life, such as before a job interview or sitting an exam, but for some people these worries can become overwhelming and difficult to manage.

Long-term anxiety is a condition called generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) which is characterised with the following symptoms:

• Restlessness
• Feeling Worried
• Struggling to sleep or concentrate
• Heart Palpitations
• Dizziness

Individuals who suffer from GAD could also experience panic attacks which can last between 5 and 20 minutes.

Clinical depression is when an individual suffers from a low mood for a period of weeks or months. People with depression might have feelings of hopelessness and lose interest in their job and hobbies.

Other symptoms of depression can include:

• Excessive Guilt
• Poor Concentration and Sleep
• Self-Harm and/or Suicidal Thoughts
• Loss of Appetite

There are three diagnoses of depression which are mild, moderate, and severe. These terms are used to describe the impact an individual’s symptoms have on their lives.

People with bipolar disorder experience depressive and manic episodes, with their moods swinging from one extreme to another. These episodes can last for weeks or months.

Some of the symptoms of mania are:

• Euphoria
• Increased Energy
• Reckless and Impulsive Behaviour
• Easily Agitated
• Not Eating or Sleeping

Individuals with bipolar disorder might also experience some psychotic symptoms, such as having hallucinations or being delusional.

People who have a difficult relationship with food, regardless of weight, age or gender, can have eating problems. The odd change to your eating habits is normal, but there might be an underlying issue if thinking about food starts to take over your life.

There are several types of eating disorders, including:

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Binge Eating
• Bulimia

Anorexia nervosa is when an individual attempts to control their weight by not eating enough food and/or exercising too much. Bulimia is characterised by having no control over how much you eat and then purging the food from the body by using laxatives or vomiting.

Anger is a normal emotion, but when it gets out of control it can become a serious issue. People with anger issues can end up hurting themselves or people around them.

Excessive anger that is not managed can lead to:

• Starting Fights
• Destruction of Property
• Self-Harming
• Feeling Resentful and Irritated

If not managed, anger can lead to people blocking their other emotions and significantly impacting their overall mental health.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterised by obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts or worries that occur regularly and cause individuals to feel anxious or uncomfortable.

Compulsions are repetitive behaviours that someone suffering with OCD feels they must do to relieve the anxiety brought on by an obsessive thought or image.