Schizophrenia is a serious, chronic mental illness that affects approximately  0.25% to 0.64% of American adults. It impacts a person’s thoughts, emotions and ability to relate to others. It can cause hallucinations, delusions and difficulty concentrating, as well as social withdrawal and emotional unresponsiveness. These symptoms can severely impair the ability to function on a day-to-day basis,= and can make it difficult to determine what is real and what is not. Many who struggle with schizophrenia also deal with substance abuse.

Symptoms of schizophrenia usually begin to appear in a person’s late teens or in early adulthood, though they often occur later in women. Research has linked schizophrenia to several possible causes, including aspects of brain chemistry, genetics, environmental factors and substance abuse.

Because schizophrenia can cause behaviors that seem unusual, inappropriate and erratic, those who suffer from it are often targets of social prejudice. Many are not effectively treated. In many cases, those who struggle with schizophrenia are not aware of their condition, making treatment especially challenging. And, a lack of appropriate services devoted to individuals living with schizophrenia has left many improperly placed in jails and prisons without the help they need. Others are homeless and vulnerable to exploitation and crime.

Schizophrenia can be treated, though no single, simple course of treatment exists. Along with medication, psychosocial rehabilitation and other community-based support services, like those offered by the Well Community, can help those with schizophrenia lead meaningful and satisfying lives.

More Resources:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance.
• Scrapping Seven Myths About Schizophrenia. 
• Journalist Anderson Cooper tries an exercise in empathy for those who hear voices.

Bipolar disorder is a severe and persistent mental illness that impacts approximately 2.8% of Americans every year. It causes dramatic, recurring shifts in a person’s mood and energy. These highs and lows, known as mania and depression, impact the ability to think and function.

Unlike the mood swings that many people experience when they are hungry or tired, the highs and lows of bipolar disorder can last weeks or months. In addition, individuals managing bipolar disorder experience mood changes that are much more severe than those experienced by most people.

During an episode of mania, a person may feel extremely irritable, euphoric or invincible. This state can involve impulsivity, rapid speech, racing thoughts, agitation, decreased need for sleep and pleasure-seeking or risk-taking behavior. During times of depression, they may feel incredibly sad, hopeless or lethargic. Extreme states of both mania and depression may also involve hallucinations or delusions.

Bipolar disorder can develop at any time in a person’s life, though it most commonly emerges in late adolescence or early adulthood. Genetics, brain structure and stress are all believed to play a role in the development of this condition.

Bipolar disorder can negatively impact every aspect of a person’s life, and without treatment the damage it causes grows. But, with treatment, many people with bipolar disorder can live meaningful and productive lives.

While medication can help stabilize moods and manage symptoms, it does not take away all signs of the condition. A holistic treatment plan includes medication, therapy and support from family and friends. The Well Community provides therapeutic programs, spiritual encouragement and other mental health services.

Visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness or the International Bipolar Foundation to learn more. See also Busting 10 Myths about Bipolar Disorder.

Major depression, also known as clinical depression, touches 8% of the U.S. population each year. It is a serious mental illness that causes a person to feel sad, hopeless, discouraged, unmotivated or disinterested for more than two weeks at a time. It goes well beyond “the blues,” impacting not only mood, but also behavior and physical health. Symptoms can include difficulty concentrating, insomnia, excessive sleep, fatigue, changes in appetite, profound guilt and thoughts of suicide. Major depression is more common in women and young adults than in men and older adults.

Left untreated, the symptoms of depression tend to worsen. These symptoms can seriously impair a person’s ability to function and may lead to suicide. Researchers believe that more than half of people who commit suicide are experiencing depression.

As devastating as this disease can be, it is treatable in most people. The availability of effective treatments (medications and counseling) and a better understanding of the biological basis for depression may lessen the barriers that can prevent early detection, accurate diagnosis and the decision to seek medical treatment. Alongside those resources, The Well Community provides a place to belong and helps those with major depression overcome feelings of isolation and hopelessness.

For more information on depression, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Schizoaffective disorder is an ongoing mental illness that causes symptoms of both schizophrenia (such as delusions and hallucinations) and of mood disorders (such as mania and depression). It can severely interfere with an individual’s ability to function, affecting relationships and livelihoods. Some struggling with this mental illness experience periods when symptoms are especially severe, followed by periods of improvement.

Those struggling with this illness are often incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia or bipolar disorder since the symptoms are similar to those of both of illnesses. Since schizoaffective disorder only affects approximately 0.3% of Americans, it is not only less common than the related illnesses, it is less well-known.

The cause of schizoaffective disorder has not yet been determined. However, factors such as genetics, stress, drug use and brain chemistry and structure are believed to contribute to the development of this mental illness.

Medication, psychotherapy and self-management strategies can help those dealing with schizoaffective disorder address symptoms. For many members of The Well, the challenges of this illness can be overwhelming. But being with others who understand and having access to The Well’s programs helps those with schizoaffective disorder to have support and hope. Visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness to learn more about this condition.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States. It is estimated that over 19% of American adults deal with an anxiety disorder. Many begin experiencing symptoms before adulthood.

This group of related conditions, which includes generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, panic disorder and social anxiety disorder, all involve feelings of intense distress and fear. These symptoms go beyond temporary worry or concern and can become overwhelming, interfering with day-to-day activities.

Each type of anxiety has unique symptoms, and each is treated slightly differently. Common treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, as well as lifestyle strategies. To learn more, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness or the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Individuals living with obsessive-compulsive disorder experience unwanted repetitive and intrusive thoughts (known as obsessions), and excessive urges to carry out certain behaviors (compulsions). These thoughts and behaviors are unwanted, intrusive and disturbing, and can consume a great deal of a person’s time and energy. Although most people dealing with OCD realize that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, they struggle to stop them. These challenges can lead to great anxiety and can interfere with daily functioning.

Approximately one in a hundred adults will be diagnosed with OCD at some point in their lives. Symptoms often first appear in childhood, the teen years or early adulthood.

OCD can be treated effectively. Many find that psychotherapy, medication and exercise help them manage anxiety. Learn more from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the International OCD Foundation.

PTSD affects over 9 million Americans who have experienced or witnessed trauma, including military combat, rape, assault, child sexual abuse, natural disasters and serious accidents. It causes both physical and emotion symptoms such as intrusive memories or flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, hypervigilance, physical reactions to triggers, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep and feelings of numbness or guilt. Individuals dealing with PTSD may avoid places, people or activities that remind them of the trauma, which can lead to isolation.

According to the National Center for PTSD, approximately 8% of women and 4% of men develop PTSD in their lifetimes, though these rates are much higher among those who have served in the military. PTSD is increasingly thought to be a normal variation of human response to an extreme threat. The same responses that can be life-saving during a crisis can leave some people with ongoing psychological symptoms.

PTSD is treatable, and early intervention can help prevent lifelong symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy and other types of psychotherapy, as well as medication, can help those with this condition find relief. Visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness or the National Center for PTSD.

BPD causes difficulty in regulating emotions, resulting in instability in a person’s moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image and behavior. Symptoms include severe mood swings, intense anger, impulsivity, poor self-image, fear of abandonment and feelings of emptiness. Those dealing with this condition may have suicidal thoughts and may engage in self-harming behaviors.

The emotional turmoil of BPD can disrupt a person’s relationships, career and ability to plan for the future. Although this mental illness is relatively common, affecting 1.4% of the U.S. population, it is less known than other mental health disorders, which can make it difficult for those affected by it to obtain treatment.

In recent decades, much progress has been made in understanding and treating BPD. But unfortunately, there are not enough resources or qualified professionals to effectively provide the extended treatment that is often required. A treatment plan often involves psychotherapy, medication and a strong support system. To learn more, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness or the National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder.

Other common mental illnesses include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), eating disorders and dissociative disorders. Visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness to learn more about these and other mental illnesses.