EM
Psych

Mental Health Glossary

Understanding mental health conditions is essential for recognizing symptoms, seeking help, and breaking the stigma. This glossary provides clear definitions of common mental health disorders and related terms to help you better understand these conditions.

Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
Chronic, excessive worrying about a wide range of situations, such as work, family, or health.

Panic Disorder:
Sudden, intense feelings of fear or terror that can lead to panic attacks.

Social Anxiety Disorder:
Fear of being embarrassed, rejected, or humiliated in social situations.

Phobias:
An intense fear of something that poses little or no danger.

Agoraphobia:
Fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or embarrassing.

Separation Anxiety Disorder:
Excessive fear of being separated from loved ones.

Specific Phobia:
A persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, activity, or person. The fear is often disproportionate to the actual danger.

Intrusive Thoughts:
Unwanted and persistent thoughts, images, or impulses that repeatedly enter a person's mind. These can be distressing and interfere with daily life.

Anxiety Attack:
A period of intense fear, worry, or dread that can make it hard to function. Anxiety attacks may vary in severity and duration.
Symptoms Include:
- Physical:
Racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, nausea, dizziness, tingling in fingers or lips
- Mental: Feeling out of control, detached from reality, intense fear, uncontrollable thoughts
- Other: Lack of focus, tension, irritability, restlessness, fatigue,
chronic, excessive worrying about a wide range of situations, such as work, family, or health.

Mood Disorders

Depression:
Persistent sadness, loss of interest, and changes in mood, behavior, and thinking.
Causes:
-Biological: Genetics, brain chemistry imbalances, medical conditions
-Psychological: Stressful events, trauma, coping mechanisms
-Social:
Isolation, lack of support, cultural influences

Bipolar Disorder:
Causes extreme mood swings between manic and depressive episodes.

Manic Episodes:

Elevated mood, irritability, increased activity levels

Depressive Episodes: Sadness, indifference, hopelessness, low energy

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
Patterns of unwanted thoughts (obsessions) lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Common themes include:Fear of contamination (e.g., excessive handwashing), need for symmetry or exactness, intrusive thoughts involving harm or taboo topics, compulsive checking, counting, or organizing to ease distress

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
A mental health condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
Common Causes:
-Personal assaults
-Disasters (natural or man-made)
-Accidents
-Combat and military experiences
-Abuse (childhood, domestic, or sexual)
Symptoms:
-Persistent frightening thoughts or flashbacks of the event
-Nightmares and sleep disturbances
-Emotional numbness or feeling detached from others
-Avoidance of reminders of the trauma
-Irritability, anger outbursts, or reckless behavior
-Difficulty concentrating or staying focused
-Being easily startled or constantly on edge

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
ADHD impacts focus, impulse control, and activity levels, often causing challenges in school, work, and relationships.
Symptoms of ADHD include:
-Inattention: Difficulty staying focused, organizing tasks, or following instructions
-Hyperactivity: Restlessness, excessive talking, and trouble staying seated
-Impulsivity: Acting without thinking, interrupting others, and difficulty waiting for one’s turn

Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders

Hypochondria (Illness Anxiety Disorder):
A mental health condition marked by excessive worry about having a serious illness, despite medical reassurance and the absence of significant symptoms.
Symptoms Include:
-Preoccupation with health and fear of developing serious illnesses
-Frequent checking of the body for signs of illness
-Misinterpreting normal bodily sensations as indicators of severe conditions
-Visiting multiple doctors for reassurance without feeling relieved
-Difficulty accepting medical evaluations that indicate good health
-Anxiety and distress that interfere with daily activities and relationships

Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia:
A chronic and serious mental health disorder characterized by disruptions in thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and social interactions.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia include:
-Positive Symptoms: Hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren’t there), delusions (false beliefs), disorganized thinking and speech
-Negative Symptoms: Reduced emotional expression (flat affect), withdrawal from social activities, lack of motivation (avolition)
-Cognitive Symptoms: Trouble with memory, attention, and decision-making

Personality Disorders

Group A: Odd or Eccentric Behavior-Paranoid Personality Disorder:
Persistent distrust and suspicion of others without justified reason

-Schizoid Personality Disorder:
Preference for solitude, emotional coldness, and lack of interest in social relationships

-Schizotypal Personality Disorder:
Odd beliefs or magical thinking, eccentric behavior, and social anxiety

Group B: Dramatic, Emotional, or Erratic Behavior-Borderline Personality Disorder:
Intense fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, mood swings, and impulsive actions

-Histrionic Personality Disorder:
Constant need for attention, exaggerated emotions, and dramatic behavior

-Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
Inflated sense of self-importance, lack of empathy, and need for admiration

-Antisocial Personality Disorder:
Disregard for the rights of others, impulsivity, deceitfulness, and aggression


Group C: Anxious or Fearful Behavior-Avoidant Personality Disorder:
Social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and sensitivity to criticism

-Dependent Personality Disorder:
Excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behaviors

-Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
Inflated sense of self-importance, lack of empathy, and need for admiration

-Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder:
Preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control

What We Specialize In

ADHD assessment and treatment at EM PSYCH, including behavioral therapy.

Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

We provide comprehensive care and personalized treatment plans to effectively manage ADHD symptoms and improve daily functioning.
Learn More
Anxiety disorders treatment at EM PSYCH, including therapy and medication management.

Anxiety Disorders

We offer evidence-based therapies and medication management to alleviate anxiety and depression, fostering a path to mental wellness.
Learn More
Eating disorders treatment at EM PSYCH, offering specialized therapy and support.

Eating Disorders

We provide holistic and tailored approaches to address and treat various eating disorders, promoting a healthier relationship with food and body image.
Learn More
Depression treatment at EM PSYCH, offering comprehensive mental health services.

Depression

We provide compassionate support and evidence-based treatments to help individuals manage depression, restore hope, and improve quality of life.
Learn More
Bipolar disorder management at EM PSYCH, providing personalized psychiatric care.

Bipolar Disorder (BPD)

Our specialized care focuses on stabilizing mood fluctuations and empowering individuals with tools for long-term emotional balance.
Learn More
DMDD treatment at EM PSYCH, helping manage severe mood swings and emotional regulation.

Disruptive Mood Disorders

Addressing severe mood dysregulation with tailored interventions to help individuals regain emotional control and resilience.
Learn More
ODD treatment at EM PSYCH, providing therapy and behavioral support for children and adolescents.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

We help children and adolescents overcome defiance and negative behaviors through behavioral therapy and family collaboration.
Learn More
Conduct disorder treatment at EM PSYCH, offering therapy and behavioral interventions for children and adolescents.

Conduct Disorder

Our services include structured therapeutic approaches to address persistent behavioral challenges and promote positive change.
Learn More
Personality disorder treatment at EM PSYCH, providing therapy for borderline, narcissistic, and other personality disorders.

Personality Disorder

Comprehensive treatment plans designed to support emotional regulation, interpersonal growth, and self-awareness.
Learn More
PTSD treatment at EM PSYCH, offering trauma-informed therapy and psychiatric care.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

We offer trauma-focused therapies to help individuals process past experiences and regain a sense of safety and control.
Learn More
Schizophrenia and psychotic disorder treatment at EM PSYCH, including therapy and medication management

Schizophrenia

Specialized care to address psychosis, improve daily functioning, and provide ongoing support for individuals and families.
Learn More
Substance use disorder treatment at EM PSYCH, providing addiction counseling and psychiatric support.

Substance Use Disorders

A holistic approach to recovery, focusing on addressing addiction, building coping mechanisms, and promoting lasting wellness.
Learn More

Don’t wait to prioritize your mental health.

Click to book your visit today or if you need more information or have questions, click the "Contact Us" to connect with us directly.
© 2025 Tauri Social, LLC. All rights reserved.