Information

The following page is designed to provide educational information about mental illness (including anxiety, depression, psychosis, and personality disorders), as well as tips to help you cope when symptoms begin to interfere with daily life. Use the bar at the left to select a category of interest.


Note: Information derived from Mayo Clinic, CAPS, and personal experience


What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal human reaction to feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and/or worried. There are a lot of factors in a college setting that make anxiety especially common: heavy workload, social status and interactions, and the career search, to name a few. But anxiety disorders are classified as mental illnesses and can become so overpowering that they make it impossible to live a normal life.

These anxiety disorders include panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Most of the time, these disorders manifest themselves in really physically crippling ways, even though they’re psychological. Treatment is important in managing these symptoms.


SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY

- Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness
- Problems sleeping
- Cold or sweaty extremities
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- An inability to be still or calm down
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Muscle tension
- Dizziness

Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: The broadest of the anxiety illnesses, GAD consists of a constant and unrealistic sense of worry and distress, even if there isn’t any obvious cause for concern.

Social Anxiety Disorder: Also known as social phobia, this is a serious illness represented by a real fear of and discomfort with social situations. People with social anxiety disorder often feel really self-conscious in these situations, worried about being judged by other people or acting in embarrassing ways.

Phobias: A phobia is an intense fear, generally of something specific. These can include anything from heights to snakes to trains. While most people are marginally afraid of lots of things, people with specific phobias may avoid everyday situations because of a disproportionate fear of some aspect of them.

Panic Disorder: A panic attack is a sudden, overwhelming sense of panic that often arrives without warning or specific purpose. Symptoms can include heart palpitations, sweating, difficulty breathing, and a feeling of “going crazy.”


Tips for Dealing with Anxiety

- Exercise daily. Don't like exercising alone? Get a Group Exercise Pass at Pottruck, or check out these free group workouts in Philly.

- Keep a journal to express your thoughts and feelings.

- Don't compound your worries. Here are some tips to help you stop worrying.

- Challenge negative thoughts with positive ones. Not sure how? Check out this page.

- Explore new hobbies. Try something new. Join a new student group that interests you. Check them out here.

- Practice relaxation techniques. Check out this page to learn how to meditate! Other relaxation techniques include calming breathing, spending time with animals or children, drinking tea instead of coffee, yoga, and spending time outdoors.

- Get out of the Penn bubble. Check out this guide for free events in Philly, including film screenings, theater, museums, festivals, tours, and more.

- Seek out professional talk therapy. Contact CAPS now.

- Let go of things that worry you.

- Keep a gratitude journal. Check out these these gratitude journal tips.

- Confront and challenge your fears step-by-step.

- Spend time with people who love you. Reach out to them for support.

- Always know that you're not alone. Talking with other students experiencing similar problems can help more than you know. Check out the Pennsive blog, or attend a group therapy session at CAPS.

- Volunteer to help others. Check out the community service initiatives on campus.

Learn More About Anxiety

Interested in learning more about anxiety? Check out this informative WebMD page.

What are Mood Disorders?

Mood disorders are marked by consistently depressed (depression), elevated (mania), or fluctuating (bipolar) moods that interfere with one’s daily life. These moods are inconsistent with one’s circumstances or experiences and occur largely independently of them.

SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION

- Irritability
- Fatigue and/or low energy
- Feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness
- Feelings of guilt
- Impaired concentration
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Loss of interest and/or pleasure in activities
- Restlessness
- Recurring thoughts of self-harm
- Significant changes in weight
- Significant changes in appetite


SYMPTOMS OF MANIA

- Increased physical and mental activity and energy
- Racing thoughts
- Elevated mood, exaggerated optimism and self confidence
- Excessive irritability and/or aggression
- Decreased need for sleep without feeling fatigue
- Grandiose delusions
- Impulsiveness
- Extremely rapid speaking
- Inability to concentrate


Mood Disorders

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Also known as seasonal depression, SAD generally affects someone at the same time every year, generally during the cold, dark winter months. It’s probably caused by hormonal changes and starts around young adulthood.

Dysthymic Disorder: This is a less severe type of depression, but it still causes a chronic feeling of sadness for at least two years. A family history of mood disorders is often a factor and is more common in women than men. Dysthymic disorder can happen on its own or in conjunction with other psychiatric disorders. Up to 5% of the population suffers from this disorder.

Major/Clinical Depression: Marked by a depressed mood most of the day, especially in the morning, and loss of interest in normal activities and relationships. Symptoms are present every day for at least two weeks, and often multiple years. Major depression affects about 6.7% of the US adult population, and will affect around 25% of adults at some point in their lifetimes.

Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder in which one’s mood swings between periods of depression and mania. A swing into depression from a manic state is particularly dangerous for those suffering from bipolar disorder. These elevated or depressed moods can last for short or extremely long periods of time and generally result in poor decision-making.


Tips for Dealing with Mood Disorders

- Exercise daily. Don't like exercising alone? Get a Group Exercise Pass at Pottruck, or check out these free group workouts in Philly.

- Eat healthy and regular meals.

- Establish a regular sleep schedule, ensuring that you always get enough!

- Challenge negative thoughts with positive ones. Not sure how? Check out this page.

- Explore new hobbies. Try something new. Join a new student group that interests you. Check them out here.

- Meditate and practice calming breathing techniques. Check out this page to get started.

- Get out of the Penn bubble. Check out this guide for free events in Philly, including film screenings, theater, museums, festivals, tours, and more.

- Seek out professional talk therapy. Contact CAPS now.

- Let go of things that worry you.

- Limit time with people whose company drains you.

- Remember, you are not psychic (You don't know what others are actually thinking).

- Spend time with people who love you. Reach out to them for support.

- Always know that you're not alone. Talking with other students experiencing similar problems can help more than you know. Check out the Pennsive blog, or attend a group therapy session at CAPS.

- Volunteer to help others. Check out the community service initiatives on campus.

Learn More About Mood Disorders

Interested in learning more about mood disorders? Check out this informative WebMD page.

What is Psychosis?

Illnesses involving psychosis are conditions affecting the brain’s ability to think clearly, make good decisions, communicate, behave appropriately, and understand reality. While they’re very serious, even the most severe psychotic disorders can be treated effectively. Symptoms vary greatly between individuals, but psychosis is marked by hallucinations (unusual sensory perceptions of things that aren’t present) and delusions (persistent false beliefs that don’t go away even after receiving truthful information). Psychotic disorders usually become apparent in one’s 20s or 30s.

If any of these disorders sound like you, reach out to CAPS.


SYMPTOMS OF PSYCHOSIS

- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Disorganized Speech
- Strange and/or dangerous behavior
- Slowed and/or unusual movements
- Loss of interest in hygiene
- Loss of interest in activities
- Problems with work, school, and/or relationships
- An inability to express emotion
- Mood symptoms, such as mood swings, mania, or depression

Psychotic Disorders

Brief Psychotic Disorder: People with this disorder exhibit quick bouts of psychotic behavior as a result of very stressful events, such as the death of a loved one. Recovery is often fast.

Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder: This can occur when the use of or withdrawal from certain substances, such as heroin or crack cocaine, causes hallucinations or delusions.

Delusional Disorder: People with this illness have a delusion involving real-life situations that could be true, such as having a disease or being followed. The delusions last for at least a month and can be very damaging both to the individual and to those around him or her.

Schizoaffective Disorder: People with this disorder have symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder, such as depression or bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia manifests itself in many ways, but is marked by hallucinations, delusions, and other changes in behavior that last longer than six months. These are usually accompanied by a decline in work, school, and social functioning.

Learn More About Psychosis

Interested in learning more about psychosis? Check out this informative WebMD page.

What are Personality Disorders?

Personality disorders are mental disorders that can cause someone to think, function, and behave differently than the social norm. This can seriously affect their ability to socialize and participate in society, even with regards to day-to-day skills. Some disorders cause a disconnect between thoughts, memories, and actions, while others manifest themselves much more mildly and may create challenges without ever being diagnosed. Not all symptoms have to be present.


SYMPTOMS OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS


Each disorder is quite distinct, so you can find each defined by its symptoms below. But personality disorders fall into one of three clusters: Cluster A is marked by eccentric thinking or behavior, Cluster B by dramatic, overly emotional, or unpredictable thinking or behavior, and Cluster C by anxious and fearful thinking or behavior.

If any of these disorders sound like you, reach out to CAPS.


Cluster A

Paranoid Personality Disorder: Distrust of others, unjustified belief that others are trying to harm or betray you, angry reactions to perceived insults, tendency to hold grudges

Schizoid Personality Disorder: Lack of interest in social relationships, limited range of emotional expression, inability to take pleasure in activities, inability to pick up normal social cues, little or no interest in sexual activity with others

Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Peculiar dress/thinking/speech/behavior, odd perceptual experiences, flat or inappropriate emotions, social anxiety, indifferent or suspicious response to others, “magical thinking” (believing you can influence things with your thoughts), belief that events have hidden messages just for you

Cluster B

Antisocial Personality Disorder: Disregard for others’ needs or feelings, persistent lying/stealing/conning others, recurring problems with the law and violation of others’ rights, aggressive/violent/impulsive behavior, lack of remorse

Borderline Personality Disorder: Impulsive and risky behavior, unstable or fragile self-image, unstable and intense relationships, fluctuating moods, suicidal behavior, intense fear of being alone, feelings of emptiness, stress-related paranoia, frequent displays of anger

Histrionic Personality Disorder: Constantly seeking attention, excessively emotional or dramatic, easily influenced, shallow and rapidly changing emotions, excessive concern with appearance, thinks relationships are closer than they are

Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Belief that they’re special and more important than others, fantasies about power and success, failure to recognize others’ feelings, exaggeration of achievements and talents, arrogance, envy or belief that others envy you, taking advantage

Cluster C

Avoidant Personality Disorder: Sensitivity to criticism or rejection, feelings of inadequacy or inferiority, avoidance of work activities that require interpersonal contact, social inhibition and isolation, extreme shyness, fear of disapproval or embarrassment

Dependent Personality Disorder: Excessive dependence on others, submissive or clingy behavior, fear of having to fend for yourself, lack of self-confidence, requiring excessive advice, difficulty starting projects on one’s own, difficulty disagreeing with others, tolerance of poor treatment, urgent need to start new relationship when one has ended

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder: Preoccupation with details/orderliness/rules, extreme perfectionism resulting in distress if perfection is not achieved, desire to be in control and inability to delegate tasks, neglect of friends and enjoyable activities because of excessive commitment to work, inability to discard worthless objects, rigidity and stubbornness, inflexibility about morality or values, tight control over spending money

Learn More About Personality Disorders

Interested in learning more about personality disorders? Check out this informative WebMD page.

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Resources

Interested in learning more about helpful resources available on and off campus, self-help strategies, and recommendations for how to help a friend struggling with mental illness? Check out our "Resources & Strategies" page by clicking the icon above.


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