Common Mental Health Conditions

Anxiety disorders are related to feelings of anxiety, and symptoms may include uncontrollable worry, strong fears around everyday things or situations, unwanted thoughts, and the experience of panic attacks. There are many types of anxiety disorders, with panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder being some of the most commonly experienced by people living with arthritis.

Panic disorder involves the repeated experience of panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden feeling of intense fear that arises unexpectedly and usually lasts for a short period of time. It can cause physical feelings like a fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, and nausea. Panic attacks can be a normal reaction to a stressful situation and can also occur alongside other anxiety disorders. With panic disorder, people experience persistent worry about panic attacks and their consequences or alter their behaviour to prevent additional panic attacks (e.g., refraining from leaving the house).

Generalized anxiety disorder is extreme worry about everyday problems that is difficult to control and lasts for more than six months. Someone with this type of disorder might feel intense anxiety over a concern that someone without an anxiety disorder would consider to be a minor concern – but that doesn’t mean the anxiety isn’t real. Many people also have physical symptoms like muscle tension and sleep problems.

Major depressive disorder is a type of mood disorder sometimes simply referred to as depression. Signs of depression include feeling little interest in things you used to enjoy, feeling down or hopeless, excessive guilt, or recurrent thoughts of death. Other symptoms include a loss of energy, a lessened ability to focus and remember information, and difficulties eating or sleeping. With a major depressive disorder, these symptoms occur most of the time across more than half of the days during a 2-week period or longer.

The term suicidal ideation refers to having thoughts of ending one’s own life, and self-harm refers to causing harm or injury to oneself on purpose. These are not mental health conditions themselves, and not all people who harm themselves or die by suicide experience a mental health condition, but they both may be linked to a mental health condition. People who live with chronic pain are at an increased risk of suicidal ideation when they believe they have become a burden to others.

If you are having thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself, you deserve support. Anyone in Canada can call 9-8-8 for immediate assistance – a trained responder will listen without judgement, provide support and understanding, and can tell you about resources that will help. You can also call 9-8-8 for advice and support if you are concerned about a loved one who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. If your or your loved one’s immediate safety is at risk, you should call 9-1-1.