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WHAT'S NEW
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Destigmatize mental illness
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Uncover the mysteries of five common disorders of the mind
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By Karyn J. Wilson
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3. Panic disorder
Realizing you've left the stove on when you're at work can cause you to panic momentarily, but people with a panic disorder experience reoccurring panic attacks that are followed by at least one month of continuous worry that they will experience more attacks. They are concerned with the implication of the attack and its consequences. Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder and a report on mental illness in Canada by the Public Health Agency of Canada reveals that 12 per cent of Canadians are affected by anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, social phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Symptoms include: Increased heart rate, shaking or trembling, nausea or abdominal upset, feelings of being smothered, fear of losing control and/or going crazy and chest pain or discomfort. Visit the website of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health for more information on panic and other anxiety disorders.
4. Eating disorders
Eating disorders involve serious disturbances in eating behaviours -- either eating too little or overeating. A person with an eating disorder obsesses about his or her body size and shape, and eating patterns become a voluntary act of consuming either smaller or larger portions of food.
There are three types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa (unwillingness to maintain a minimal normal body weight), bulimia nervosa (binge eating followed by acts to hinder weight gain such as inducing vomiting), binge eating disorder (overindulgent eating that is not followed by vomiting or excessive exercise, a condition often linked to obesity). Approximately three per cent of women will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime, according to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre. Visit their website at www.nedic.ca for more information.
5. Seasonal affective disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a severe depression and the Mood Disorders Society of Canada estimates that two to four per cent of Canadians experience it. Ongoing research suggests that the changing of seasons, and the variations of daylight that come with it, cause SAD. This disorder can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of other types of depression or bipolar disorder.
Symptoms include: low mood, less interest in normally pleasurable activities, reduced concentration, oversleeping (often four hours more than usual), fatigue, intense cravings for carbohydrates, and weight gain.
Watch for symptoms that persist for at least two successive winters or summers with no other explanation for changes in behaviour or mood. Visit www.mooddisorderscanada.ca for more information about SAD.
You, or someone you care about, can overcome mental illness by seeking help from medical professionals. The more you learn about mental health, the more you can both give and receive much-needed support -- so don't suffer in silence. Go online and visit your family physician to take the first steps toward ensuring peace of mind.
For more information about mental illness and for an interactive quiz to help you to assess your mental health, visit www.checkupfromtheneckup.ca.
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