Conditions

 Anxiety is a normal human response to stress and uncertainty. When worry, fear, physical symptoms, or avoidance begin interfering with daily life, relationships, sleep, school, or work, additional support may be helpful. 

 Common symptoms may include:

• Persistent or difficult-to-control worry
• Restlessness or feeling on edge
• Racing thoughts
• Avoidance
• Difficulty concentrating
• Muscle tension
• Rapid heartbeat
• Gastrointestinal discomfort
• Sleep difficulties
• Panic attacks

 Depression is a mood disorder that can affect emotions, thinking, motivation, sleep, appetite, relationships, work, school, and daily functioning. Depression can look different from person to person and may involve sadness, loss of interest, irritability, fatigue, hopelessness, or difficulty concentrating. 

 Depression can affect mood, energy, thinking, sleep, appetite, motivation, and physical wellbeing. Symptoms may not be present every day or all of the time, but they can become persistent enough to interfere with daily life. A person may feel sad, hopeless, empty, emotionally numb, or detached. For some people, depression may also show up as irritability, frustration, or anger.

• Frequent crying spells or emotional outbursts, sometimes in response to relatively small stressors.
• Loss of interest, motivation, or enjoyment in activities that would normally feel meaningful or enjoyable.
• Fatigue or low energy, including feeling unusually tired or becoming exhausted more easily than usual.
• Changes in sleep, including insomnia, difficulty staying asleep, or sleeping much more than usual.
• Increased irritability or a shorter temper than is typical for you.
• Decreased interest in sex or reduced libido.
• Slowed thinking, speech, or physical movement.
• Difficulty with memory, concentration, or decision-making.
• Changes in appetite, which may involve eating more or less than usual.
• Unintentional weight gain or weight loss.
• Physical symptoms, such as headaches, back pain, or digestive concerns that may occur alongside depression.
• Feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, or persistent self-criticism, including getting caught in repeated cycles of self-blame.
• Thoughts about death or suicide, including feeling that others would be better off without you or having thoughts of harming yourself.

If you are having thoughts of suicide or feel you may be in immediate danger, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency department.

Psychological trauma can occur when a distressing event—or repeated exposure to stressful experiences—overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. Trauma can affect both emotional and physical wellbeing and may result from experiences such as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; neglect or abandonment; bullying; violence; accidents; natural disasters; oppression; isolation; or other life-threatening or deeply distressing situations.

Trauma can also develop from witnessing a disturbing event or learning about something traumatic that happened to someone close to you. In some cases, repeated exposure to another person’s traumatic experiences—often referred to as secondary or vicarious trauma—can also have a significant emotional impact.

The body’s stress-response system is often described in terms of fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown. During a traumatic event, these survival responses can become intensely activated. When escape is not possible, the mind may respond by disconnecting from the present moment—a process that can involve emotional numbness, detachment, or dissociation. When the fight response is activated, that same survival energy may show up as physical tension, irritability, anger, racing thoughts, or behaviors aimed at regaining a sense of safety and control.

Trauma can also change the way a person interprets the world, other people, and themselves. After a traumatic experience, the mind may begin to operate from beliefs such as “the world is unsafe,” “other people cannot be trusted,” or “I am not equipped to handle what happens to me.” Some people may also internalize blame and develop painful beliefs about themselves, such as feeling unworthy, damaged, or responsible for what happened. These shifts in perspective can make a person highly sensitive to anything that resembles the original experience, including certain places, relationships, emotions, physical sensations, or situations that create a sense of being trapped or vulnerable.

Over time, trauma can affect many areas of functioning, including thinking, concentration, memory, sleep, appetite, energy, emotional regulation, and relationships. It can make it harder to feel calm, safe, connected, or present. Trauma may also interfere with work, family life, physical health, social connection, and overall quality of life. With appropriate support and treatment, however, these patterns can be understood, managed, and gradually changed.

• Intrusive memories, thoughts, dreams, or nightmares related to the traumatic experience.
• Flashbacks or dissociation, including feeling disconnected from your body or as though you are watching your life from the outside.
• Feeling that your surroundings are unreal or dreamlike, or having difficulty staying fully aware of what is happening around you.
• Avoidance of distressing thoughts, memories, emotions, people, places, or situations that serve as reminders of the trauma.
• Changes in thoughts and mood, including difficulty experiencing positive emotions.
• Persistent negative beliefs about yourself, other people, or the world, such as feeling unsafe, powerless, or unable to trust.
• Ongoing difficult emotions, including fear, anger, guilt, sadness, shame, irritability, or emotional numbness.
• Loss of interest or reduced participation in activities that were previously enjoyable or meaningful.
• Feeling detached, disconnected, or distant from other people.
• Difficulty remembering parts of the traumatic experience.
• Anger, irritability, or emotional outbursts that may feel intense or difficult to control.
• Reckless, impulsive, or self-destructive behavior, including using substances in an attempt to cope with distress.
• Feeling constantly on edge or overly alert, including a strong need to monitor what is happening around you.
• Exaggerated startle responses or becoming easily startled.
• Difficulty with concentration, attention, or memory.
• Disruption in daily functioning, including problems at work, school, in relationships, within the family, or in other important areas of life.

Not everyone who experiences trauma will have all of these symptoms, and symptoms can vary in intensity and duration from person to person.

 ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect attention, organization, impulse control, activity level, and other areas of executive functioning. Symptoms can look different from person to person and may affect school, work, relationships, and everyday responsibilities.

ADHD is generally described in three presentations: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and combined presentation, in which symptoms of both are present. ADHD can continue into adulthood, and many adults may not recognize their symptoms until later in life.

• Short attention span and easy distractibility, especially during tasks that are repetitive or require sustained concentration.
• Difficulty maintaining focus, including trouble staying engaged with lengthy, tedious, or mentally demanding activities.
• Reduced attention to detail, which may lead to careless mistakes or overlooked information.
• Difficulty listening when others are speaking, sometimes appearing distracted or mentally elsewhere.
• Challenges with follow-through, including procrastination or difficulty completing tasks after starting them.
• Difficulty with organization and time management, including planning, prioritizing, or keeping track of responsibilities.
• Frequently losing or misplacing items and forgetting appointments, tasks, or everyday responsibilities.
• Frequent daydreaming or appearing distracted, even when trying to remain engaged.
• Becoming bored easily, particularly with tasks that are repetitive or lack immediate stimulation.
• Avoiding or delaying tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as paperwork, studying, or lengthy projects.

• Difficulty with impulse control, which may lead to acting or responding before fully thinking through the consequences.
• Restlessness or excessive activity; in children, this may include running or climbing in situations where it is not appropriate.
• Difficulty engaging in leisure activities quietly or relaxing without feeling the need to stay active.
• Frequent fidgeting or difficulty remaining seated, particularly during situations that require prolonged sitting.
• Difficulty waiting for a turn, including interrupting conversations or activities and speaking over others.
• A persistent sense of being “on the go,” as though it is difficult to slow down or remain still.
• Talking frequently or rapidly, sometimes making it difficult for others to participate in the conversation.
• Irritability or a quick temper, particularly when frustrated, overstimulated, or asked to wait.

   Information on this page is educational and is not intended to diagnose a mental health condition. A qualified healthcare professional can help determine whether symptoms meet criteria for a diagnosis and discuss appropriate treatment options.