Eating disorders are a range of conditions from disturbed to abnormal eating habits. These disorders generally origin from an obsession with food, body shape, or body weight. Eating disorders are often misunderstood has fads, phases, or lifestyle choices. However, these conditions are serious mental disorders. They affect a person psychologically, socially, and physically, often having life-threatening consequences and may even result in death. By the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), eating disorders are officially recognized as mental disorders. Anorexia nervosa One of the most popular types of eating disorders is anorexia nervosa. It generally tends to develop during the period of adolescence and young adulthood. It is observed to affect women more than men. People who have been diagnosed with anorexia generally think of themselves as fat and obese even though they are severely underweight. They tend to monitor their weight continuously, avoid consuming certain foods or any food, severely restrict calories, and have extreme work-out schedules. The common symptoms of anorexia nervosa are- Following extremely restricted eating patterns An endless and relentless pursuit of being thin and an unwillingness to maintain healthy body weight. Being significantly underweight as compared to people of a similar age and height.

If you are someone who deals with anxiety on a regular basis, then medication is not sufficient. You need to make some major lifestyle changes to sustain yourself and keep your anxiety in check in the long run. This article discusses some of the best ways to do this on a routine basis: Exercise One of the most important ways to deal with anxiety on both a physical and mental level is to practice exercising. You can easily boost your well-being by being dedicatedly active for just about 30 minutes for at least three to five times a week. You can easily make these sessions interesting and concentrate better to keep at it when you choose an exercise that you enjoy doing. Keep track of your sleep A good sleep is measured in terms of both quantity and quality. While doctors recommend about 8 hours of sleep at night for a healthy and stress free body, anxiety can easily throw you off track. You need to develop a routine wherein you make sure you do not spend excess time on your mobile or laptop. You should develop routine sleep schedules, sleep on a comfortable bed, and make sure you maintain a cool enough room temperature.

Bipolar disorder is a complex disorder with symptoms that may range from subtle to severe, requiring formal diagnosis and customized treatment. If you, or someone you know, is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, this article will help you learn the meaning of some technical terms that are used in the description of this disorder. Mania : This term is casually used by people to address all sorts of behavioral patterns in people, but it has a very specific technical definition. Mania specifically means a period of unusually high levels of arousal. The person may report feeling euphoric, extremely energetic and upbeat. Conversely, he may also display high levels of irritability. A person going through a manic episode may be extremely restless and hyperactive, with racing thoughts and rapidly changing ideas. The speech might be faster than usual, with poor articulation or coherence. During manic phases, the person might experience bouts of sleeplessness and may be likely to indulge in risky behavior. Mania might also be worsened by certain stimulants and drugs. Even caffeine can pose a problem. Hypomania : Hypomania refers to a milder form of mania, where the symptoms are not as full-blown or severe. The person may feel more upbeat or irritable than usual, with a marked increase in energy and alertness.

A mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) occurs when a person gets caught up in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are the unwanted, intrusive thoughts, urges, or images that trigger intensely distressing feelings. Compulsions are the behaviors that an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease their distress. At some point in their lives, most people have obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviors, but that does not always mean that they all have “some OCD”. In order for a diagnosis of OCD to be made, the cycle of obsessions and compulsions becomes so extreme that it consumes a lot of the individual’s time and it also gets in the way of the individual’s important activities, which are valuable. Symptoms Many people suffering from OCD know that their thoughts and habits don’t make any sense. They do not perform them because they enjoy them, but because they are unable to quit. And even if they stop, they feel so bad that they end up starting again. Many different things can be involved in obsessions and compulsions like a need for order or cleanliness; intrusive thoughts about sex, body parts, religion, and violence; and hoarding.