Types Of Mental Illness
                     Types of Mental Illness
With so many possible types of mental illness, knowing when you or someone you love suffer one of 
these conditions is difficult. You need a doctor’s help in determining your mental health status, 
particularly if you also suffer a dual diagnosis of addiction.
Whether you suffer one of the many types of mental illness or a co-occurring condition with a substance 
use disorder, you need treatment. Through mental health treatment programs, you learn about your 
diagnosis and signs of problems. You also gain access to helpful medications and therapies to stabilize 
your condition. Through these treatments, you forge a new path beyond your diagnosis.
Types of Mental Illness
In reality, there are too many forms of mental illness to list 
here. But the most common types of mental illness include:
● Anxiety disorders
● Mood disorders
● Psychotic disorders
● Impulse control and addiction disorders
● Personality disorders
● Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD)
● Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
About These Common Mental Illnesses
Anxiety disorders cause stress, fear, and feelings of dread through exposure to 
certain situations or objects. These disorders also cause physical symptoms, such 
as a fast heartbeat, sweating and shaking. These types of psychological disorders 
limit enjoyment of everyday life in many ways. Conditions included in the group of 
anxiety disorders include social anxiety, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and 
phobias.
Mood disorders cause persistent, ongoing feelings of sadness, extreme happiness, 
or a mix of these opposite extremes. People with mood disorders usually suffer the 
most common types of mental illness in this group, such as clinical depression or 
bipolar disorder.
Psychotic disorders alter the person’s awareness and thought patterns. 
Hallucinations and delusions result from these types of psychological disorders, 
including schizophrenia.
Addiction and Impulsivity
Impulse control and addictions involve the inability to resist specific impulses or urges. Many people with 
these conditions do things that bring the risk of harm to themselves or others. Conditions of this category 
include kleptomania, pyromania, compulsive gambling, and substance use disorders.
Personality disorders cause extreme and rigid personality traits that cause damage throughout a person’s 
life. This group of disorders causes people to not meet social expectations. They function abnormally and 
struggle throughout daily life with diagnoses like antisocial personality disorder, paranoid personality 
disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
OCD causes constant fears or thoughts only stopped by performing specific routines or rituals. The rituals 
make up the compulsions used to resolve obsessive thoughts. Excessive hand-washing and cleaning are 
some OCD behaviors.
PTSD is a collection of symptoms resulting from a traumatic or frightening event. The trauma of sexual 
assault, crime victimization, injury, a loved one’s death, combat, or natural disaster often causes PTSD. 
This condition leads to flashbacks, invasive thoughts, anxiety, and emotional problems.
Treatment for Mental Illness
Knowing you suffer mental illness is only one part of your dilemma. Another part is 
getting the treatment you need to enjoy greater wellness and stability in your life. 
Whether you suffer one mental illness or co-occurring conditions like depression or 
anxiety with addiction, you can turn your life around.
Treatment that helps improve mental health and stop substance abuse includes:
● Medical detox
● Dual diagnosis treatment
● Inpatient rehab
● Day treatment
● Intensive outpatient program
● Extended care program