e-Clinic

What are Eating Disorders? Eating disorders are serious, biologically influenced medical and psychiatric illnesses. They are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behaviors and deeply related thoughts and emotions. Important: Eating disorders are not lifestyle choices, diets gone wrong, or cries for attention. They are deadly mental health conditions with some of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric illness. The 3 Primary Clinical Diagnoses While there are several types of eating disorders, the vast majority fall into three clinical categories: 1. Anorexia Nervosa People with anorexia view themselves as overweight, even if they are dangerously underweight. They severely restrict their food intake out of an intense, phobic fear of gaining weight. Signs: Extreme restriction of eating, relentless pursuit of thinness, distorted body image, and intense fear of weight gain. Physical Risks: ...

What is OCD? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition characterized by a cycle of uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that the person feels the urge to repeat over and over. Myth Buster: OCD is widely misunderstood. It is not an adjective for someone who likes their desk neat or enjoys organizing. It is a severely debilitating disorder driven by intense anxiety and fear, not preference. The OCD Cycle: Obsessions vs. Compulsions The disorder typically follows a relentless neurological loop: 1. Obsessions (The Fear) 2. Compulsions (The Response) Repeated, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts or urges that cause immense distress. Examples: Intense fear of germs/contamination, horrific aggressive thoughts of harming loved ones, or an agonizing need for...

What is PTSD? Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic, life-threatening, or terrifying event. While it is deeply associated with military combat veterans, PTSD can affect anyone . It is frequently caused by natural disasters, serious car accidents, physical or sexual assault, or the unexpected death of a loved one. Signs & Symptoms It is normal to experience anxiety and sleep issues after a trauma. However, if symptoms last longer than a month, cause great distress, or interfere with daily life, it may be PTSD. Symptoms fall into four specific categories: 1. Intrusive Memories: Unwanted, distressing memories of the event; terrifying nightmares; or severe flashbacks where the person feels they are reliving the trauma in real-time. 2. Avoidance: Going out of the way to avoid places, activities, or people that remin...

What is Schizophrenia? Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic mental health disorder that profoundly affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality, experiencing the world through a distorted lens. Myth Buster: Schizophrenia does not mean "split personality" or multiple personality disorder (which is a separate condition called DID). It also does not inherently mean a person is violent; in fact, people with schizophrenia are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. Signs & Symptoms Symptoms generally fall into three clinical categories: Positive, Negative, and Cognitive. Positive Symptoms (Added behaviors) Negative Symptoms (Lost behaviors) • Hallucinations: Hearing voices or seeing things that do not exist. •...

What is an Adjustment Disorder? Major life changes—such as moving, divorce, job loss, or a serious medical diagnosis—are universally stressful. However, if you continue to feel deeply overwhelmed, anxious, or self-destructive long after the event, you may be experiencing an adjustment disorder. It is a stress-related mental health condition where you have a disproportionately difficult time adjusting to a transition. This leads to severe disruptions in your daily routines, personal relationships, or professional performance. The good news? Unlike some chronic conditions, adjustment disorders are highly treatable. ⚠️ IMMEDIATE HELP If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please seek help immediately. In the U.S.: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. If you are in immediate physical danger, call 911. Signs & Symptoms S...

Nightmares typically occur during REM sleep, which becomes longer as the morning approaches. What are Nightmares? Nightmares are intensely vivid, disturbing dreams that evoke strong negative feelings such as fear, terror, anxiety, or deep sadness. Clinically, they are classified as a parasomnia (an undesirable experience or behavior that occurs during sleep). Key Characteristic: Unlike other sleep disturbances, you usually wake up from a nightmare with a crystal-clear memory of the dream sequence and feel immediately alert, though emotionally distressed. Symptoms You have likely experienced a clinical nightmare if: The dream actively wakes you up from sleep. You feel intensely scared, anxious, angry, or disgusted upon waking. Recall: You can think clearly immediately upon waking and remember the specific, terrifying details of the dream. Timing: It usually happens in the last third of the ni...

What is Anxiety? Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal, expected part of life—such as feeling nervous before a big presentation or a medical test. However, clinical Anxiety Disorders involve intense, excessive, and persistent worry about everyday situations. These feelings are incredibly difficult to control, entirely out of proportion to the actual danger, and severely interfere with an individual's ability to function in their daily life. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense fear or terror that reach a physical and mental peak within minutes (panic attacks). Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue heavily into adulthood. Common Symptoms While specific symptoms vary depending on the exact type of anxiety disorder you have, common systemic signs include: Feeling constantly nervous, restless, or tense. Having a profound sense of ...

What is a Mood Disorder? A mood disorder is a broad mental health classification that healthcare professionals use to describe all forms of clinical depression and bipolar disorders. If you have a mood disorder, your general emotional state (your mood) is significantly distorted or inconsistent with your actual circumstances. You may experience periods of extreme, debilitating sadness (depression), excessive and dangerous euphoria (mania), or severe fluctuations between the two. Mood disorders are not just "in your head"—they are systemic medical conditions that can significantly increase your risk for chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, while severely interfering with your ability to function at work, in school, and in your relationships. Common Types Major Depressive Disorder (Clinical Depression): Prolonged and persistent periods of extreme sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in lif...

What is Insomnia? Insomnia is a persistent, frustrating sleep disorder characterized by profound difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up much too early and being unable to return to sleep. Acute Insomnia: Short-term sleep disruption, often triggered by acute life stress or trauma. It typically lasts for a few days to a few weeks. Chronic Insomnia: A long-term pattern of disrupted sleep that occurs at least 3 nights a week and lasts for 3 months or longer. Insomnia does more than just sap your energy level; it negatively impacts your mood, your immune health, and your cognitive performance. Most healthy adults require 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep per night to function optimally. Symptoms You may be suffering from clinical insomnia if you regularly experience: Significant difficulty falling asleep at night (taking longer than 30 minutes). Waking up frequently during the night and stru...

What is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition, as well as poor spelling and decoding abilities. Important: Dyslexia occurs in people with perfectly normal vision and average to above-average intelligence. It is absolutely not a sign of low intelligence, laziness, or a lack of effort. While there is no "cure" for dyslexia because it is a lifelong structural difference in the brain, early identification and targeted educational support allow individuals with dyslexia to read, succeed in school, and thrive in their careers. Symptoms by Age Symptoms can be difficult to recognize before a child formally enters school, but observant parents or preschool teachers often notice early warning signs. Before School (Preschool) Late talking compared to peers. Learning new vocabulary...

What is Cyclothymia? Cyclothymia (or cyclothymic disorder) is a rare mood disorder that causes a chronic pattern of emotional ups and downs. It is very similar to Bipolar Disorder, but the highs and lows are less extreme. You may feel noticeably on top of the world for a while, followed by a period of feeling unusually blue. Between these shifts, you may feel stable and completely fine. Symptoms Symptoms alternate between emotional highs (Hypomania) and emotional lows (Mild Depression). These shifts can heavily disrupt your daily life because you often never know how you will feel from one week to the next. 1. The Highs (Hypomania) Exaggerated feeling of happiness, well-being, or euphoria. Extreme optimism and highly inflated self-esteem. Racing thoughts, rapid speech, and a tendency to jump from topic to topic. Risk Taking: Engaging in impulsive spending sprees, risky sexual behavior, or foolis...

What is Major Depressive Disorder? Depression is much more than just a bout of the blues. It is a serious, clinical mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and a profound loss of interest in daily life. It affects how you feel, think, and behave. It is a medical condition, not a personal weakness, and you cannot simply "snap out" of it. However, it is highly treatable with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. Symptoms Symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day. They can affect everyone differently depending on their age and circumstances: 1. Emotional & Mental Feelings of persistent sadness, tearfulness, emptiness, or hopelessness. Angry outbursts, irritability, or severe frustration over small matters. Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, such as sex, hobbies, or sports. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failu...

What is Bipolar Disorder? Formerly known as manic depression, Bipolar Disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. These swings range from emotional highs ( Mania or Hypomania) to emotional lows ( Depression ). These extreme shifts can heavily affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior, and the ability to think clearly. Types of Bipolar Disorder The condition is categorized by the severity and pattern of the mood swings: Bipolar I Disorder: You have had at least one manic episode that may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. In some cases, severe mania may trigger a break from reality (psychosis). Bipolar II Disorder: You have had at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, but you have never had a full manic episode. Cyclothymic Disorder: A milder form involving periods of hypomania and periods of depressive ...