Bipolar Disorder: A type of mood disorder characterized by highs (mania) and lows (depression). These episodes can last weeks or months depending on the type of bipolar disorder. The illness usually emerges in late adolescence (I was diagnosed at age 22).
Borderline Personality Disorder: a personality disorder that makes it hard to establish solid relationships. Other symptoms include erratic moods, a tendency to self-harm, and a strong fear of abandonment.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): a type of therapy focused on thinking and establishing new thought patterns. It works very well for OCD and some forms of psychosis. I’ve been doing it since age 11.
Compulsions: These are urges or rituals someone with OCD needs to perform to alleviate feelings of guilt and anxiety. Compulsions can include washing hands, counting, repeating, or asking for reassurance over and over again.
Delusions: strong beliefs that aren’t true such as “The voices are taking my friends”
Depressive Episode: One of the elements of bipolar disorder. It is characterized by feeling worthless/ guilty, intense despair, severe tiredness (fatigue), and even suicidal thoughts or behavior. Depressive episodes can last for weeks or months.
DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy): a type of behavior-focused therapy established by Marsha Linehan, an American psychologist. This type of therapy is specifically aimed atpeople with borderline personality disorder (which I was misdiagnosed with for a while).
Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that are not real. Auditory hallucinations include hearing voices. These voices might tell you people hate you, that you have no friends or that you should kill yourself.
Lithium: A mood stabilizer usually used in treating bipolar disorder. It can also reduce suicidal tendencies. Side effects can include increased thirst, tremors, or feeling sleepy. Regular blood tests are taken to make sure you do not get lithium toxicity (where the levels of lithium in your blood get too high).
Manic Episode: Another element of bipolar disorder. It is characterized by racing thoughts, impulsive behavior (including promiscuity and overspending), sleepless nights, and in severe cases psychosis.
Obsessions: A part of OCD where the brain fixates on something that upsets the person and causes them anxiety. These thoughts are intrusive, and the person is unable to get rid of them without performing the ritual (compulsion).
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder): A type of anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions. It is NOT an adjective (“I am so OCD”) but a very real and difficult illness. OCD can be diagnosed relatively early in life (I was diagnosed at age 11) and usually responds to treatment with antidepressants and/or CBT. It is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. People with OCD might have difficulty with contamination but it is a misconception that that is all OCD is about.
Panic Disorder: a type of anxiety disorder where someone has episodes of intense fear. During these attacks, you may feel like you are going crazy, having a heart attack, or dying (even if you know these things are not the case). It is treatable, but can severe and debilitating.
Prozac: an antidepressant that can be used to treat mental illnesses, among them obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Side effects can include difficulty having an orgasm (solo or during sex), drowsiness, or changes in weight. Prozac can also trigger manic episodes in bipolar patients.
Psychosis: a mental state when someone loses touch with reality. They may see or hear things that are not there. Psychotic people are not necessarily violent but they possibly may be a danger to themselves or others.
Risperdal: a strong antipsychotic that is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability in autism. Side effects can include increased appetite, weight gain, and blurred vision.
Scrupulosity: A type of OCD that deals with religious or moral issues such as praying a certain amount of types a day or avoiding saying a certain word because it sounds too much like the word “God”.
Xanax: a type of drug known as a benzodiazepine (“benzo”) used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders, especially agoraphobia (fear of public places). It is regulated by the government because it is easily abused and considered to be addicting.
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