addiction — a habit that develops when a person regularly ingests drugs, pills, mind-altering substances, or alcoholic beverages to the extreme to the point at which they can’t stop immediately without withdrawal symptoms; also known as substance abuse.

 

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) — an illness, most commonly found in children, involving hyperactivity, or quick thoughts and fast physical movement, plus an inability to focus or pay attention.

 

anorexia — an eating disorder in which a person does not eat for long periods of time.

 

anxiety — unpleasant feelings triggered by guilt, shame, or extraneous circumstances.

 

bipolar disorder type I — the more extreme type of bipolar, in which individuals experience the extreme highs of mania and the depths of depression in addition to psychosis and hallucinations. (Read more about the types of bipolar disorder.)

 

bipolar disorder type II — the bipolar type in which someone experiences depression and hypomania but not to the point of psychosis and hallucinations. (Read more about the types of bipolar disorder.)

 

borderline personality disorder (BPD) — a disorder whose hallmarks include unstable emotions and mood swings, belligerence, acting on impulse, and problems with self-worth. Fear of abandonment is common as is self-harm, addiction, and suicidal ideation. (Read more about borderline personality disorder.)

 

bulimia — an eating disorder in which a person binges on food and then purges or induces vomiting.

 

cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) — a psychiatric treatment that involves both psychoanalysis and a focus on thinking patterns, and teaching coping mechanisms. (Read more about cognitive behavioral therapy.)

 

delusion — when someone imagines and believes something that isn’t true.

 

depression — a disease that manifests as a feeling of deep sadness or melancholy usually brought on for no reason at all. (Read more about depression.)

 

diagnosis — when a doctor assigns a disease or disorder to a patient.

 

drugs (recreational) — mood-altering substances including stimulants such as nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, and marijuana, opiates such as heroin, OxyContin, and Fentanyl.

 

drugs (antipsychotic) — a prescription medication that battles the psychosis part of bipolar I disorder.

 

drugs (benzodiazepines) — prescription drugs such as Klonopin and Xanax that have sedative properties and are often prescribed for insomnia and anxiety.

 

drugs (depressants) — substances that have tranquilizing effects, slowing down the brain or depressing the body, such as alcohol, Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin; also known as “downers.”

 

drugs (opioids) — prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Fentanyl that are highly addictive and dangerous to the human body. Also, illegal street drugs including heroin and morphine.

 

drugs (prescription) — substances that are meant to remedy such problems as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, ADHD, or schizophrenia.

 

drugs (stimulants) — a type of drug that speeds up activities in the body, including heart rate, energy, alertness, and concentration. Also known as “uppers.” Nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, and marijuana are common forms.

 

dry mouth — a lack of saliva in one’s mouth that is often a side effect of medication.

 

dysthymia — long-term depression that exists outside the bipolar spectrum.

 

ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) — a treatment for psychiatric disorders that involves a pulse of electricity being administered to the brain. Can cause memory loss. Formerly known as electroshock therapy. (Read more about electroconvulsive therapy.)

 

hallucination — the feeling, audio, or visual of something that isn’t there; a type of mental illusion.

 

hypomania — a milder version of mania that involves excessive happiness but not hallucinations or psychosis.

 

lithium — a salt found in nature that was the first treatment for bipolar disorder when it was first approved by the US Food And Drug Association in 1970. Appears as “Li” on the Periodic Table of the Elements. (Read more about lithium.)

 

mania — a symptom of bipolar disorder in which a person feels an overly excited state of happiness or feeling of euphoria that can manifest in paranoia, psychosis, hallucinations, and shopping sprees.

 

Medicare — a system that provides health insurance for Americans over 65 years of age.

 

Medicaid — a system that provides low-income Americans with health insurance.

 

mindfulness — a therapeutic method of thinking that involves staying in the present and accepting and acknowledging one’s own thoughts.

 

OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) — a personality disorder that involves specific attention to detail, the need for things to be organized in a certain way, perfectionism, and a need for control over the people in one’s life.

 

opioids — see drugs (opioids)

 

panic disorder (panic attacks) — a disorder in which a patient may experience panic or anxiety attacks. The attacks can manifest as excessive sweating, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, numbness, or fear for the worst.

 

psychotherapy — a style of therapy most notably practiced by famed psychiatrist Sigmund Freud in which patients reveal their thoughts, fears, and anxieties to a doctor in order to jettison these thoughts and feelings. Also known as talk therapy.

 

psychosis — the inability to differentiate between what is real and what is not real, often as a symptom of bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia. Patients may experience delusions and/or hallucinations, feel a lack of motivation, and experience sleep problems.

 

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) — a disorder in which a person has experienced a major distressful event, such as rape, child abuse, warfare, or threats to a person’s life, causing them to experience side effects such as nightmares and paranoia. Those with PTSD are more likely to self-harm or die by suicide.

 

racing thoughts — fleeting ideas and thoughts that cause a person to have trouble quieting the mind or relaxing.

 

rapid cycling — switching between manic and depressive states quickly over a period of weeks or months, or having at least four or more mood episodes in the period of one year. (Read more about rapid cycling.)

 

schizophrenia — a disorder characterized by odd behavior, impaired speech, and a depleting sense of reality. A person with schizophrenia may hear voices that do not exist, experience confusion, reduced social interactions, a lack of emotional expression, and impaired sleep. Patients may also experience major anxiety, depressive episodes, or substance abuse.

 

schizoaffective disorder — a disorder that combines the symptoms of bipolar or depression
and schizophrenia.

 

seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — a type of depression brought on by winter and decreased exposure to light. (Read more about seasonal affective disorder.)

 

self-harm/self-injury — hurting oneself by cutting with a knife or sharp object, pulling at one’s hair or punching one’s self. Often employed when a patient has racing thoughts. (Read more about self-harm and self-injury.)

 

substance abuse — see addiction

 

suicidal ideation — thinking about suicide or planning it, but not acting on the feeling.

 

suicide — the taking of one’s own life. The current vernacular is to say someone has “died by suicide,” not “committed suicide.”

 

talk therapy — see psychotherapy