Common co-occurring disorders include:
Examples;
Depression
Affects millions of people worldwide and the depth of ones depression can vary significantly. When im depressed I feel very lethargic, Iack motivation and energy. I think very negatively. I feel like I'm swamped in darkness and suffocated with too much emotion or none at all. I may feel tearful or I may feel like I cannot cry or express emotion at all. I will feel lost, isolated and alone and I will withdraw from everyone and everything and retreat into my hermit like state where I feel safe. I just feel like I want to totally numb out or forget my emotional and psychological pain and distress.
Anxiety
Anxiety is variable and comes in many forms. It often accompanies an eating disorder as anxiety will often come hand in hand with food, the action of eating and the fears and distress afterwards. Other anxiety provoking situations may include, but are not limited to, social situations, solo speaking, crowds etc...Feelings may include; a knotted stomach (butterflies in stomach), sweaty palms, nausea or sickness, rapid breathing, difficulty catching your breath, panic attacks etc...
Body Dysmorphia
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is often accompanied by an ED (but not always) it is categorised as having intrusive negative and distorted thoughts about your physical appearance and its size. Being over critical and obsessing over what you hate or want to change about your body.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - OCD
OCD effects people differently. The three elements of the disorder are;
Obsessions – repeated unwelcome, distressing thoughts, worries, doubts, images etc...
Emotions – the "obsession" causes an intense feeling of anxiety and distress.
Compulsions – the neutralising behaviours or "repetitions' the person has to perform to relieve the distress the obsession has caused.
Then a temporary relief is achieved but it is an ongoing cycle.
Some compulsive behaviours include;
- Hand Washing
- Contamination fears
- Cleaning
- Tapping and repeating
- Order and organisation ....
CONTINUED...
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder or any other associated mood disorder is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain resulting in uncontrollable extremes in mood, from episodes of depression and mania or hypomania and even mixed episodes.
Bipolar Mania Symptoms;
- feeling very happy, elated or overjoyed
- talking very quickly
- feeling full of energy
- feeling self-important
- feeling full of great new ideas and having important plans
- being easily distracted
- being easily irritated or agitated
- being delusional, having hallucinations and disturbed or illogical thinking
- not feeling like sleeping
- doing things that often have disastrous consequences – such as spending large sums of money on expensive and sometimes unaffordable items
- making decisions or saying things that are out of character and that others see as being risky or harmful
Bipolar Depression Symptoms;
- feeling sad, hopeless or irritable most of the time
- lacking energy
- difficulty concentrating and remembering things
- loss of interest in everyday activities
- feelings of emptiness or worthlessness
- feelings of guilt and despair
- feeling pessimistic about everything
- self-doubt
- being delusional, having hallucinations and disturbed or illogical thinking
- lack of appetite
- difficulty sleeping
- waking up early
- suicidal thoughts
Patterns of depression and mania
If you have bipolar disorder, you may have episodes of depression more regularly than episodes of mania, or vice versa.
Between episodes of depression and mania, you may sometimes have periods where you have a "normal" mood.
The patterns are not always the same and some people may experience:
- rapid cycling – where a person with bipolar disorder repeatedly swings from a high to a low phase quickly without having a "normal" period in between
- mixed state – where a person with bipolar disorder experiences symptoms of depression and mania together; for example, overactivity with a depressed mood
If your mood swings last a long time but are not severe enough to be classed as bipolar disorder, you may be diagnosed with a mild form of bipolar disorder called cyclothymia.
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms/
Borderline Personality Disorder
BPD symptoms include;
Emotional instability
Difficulty forming and maintaining relationships
Distorted perception of oneself and the people and the world around them
Severe mood swings
Impulsivity
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD can develop and stem from many catalysts, such as, intense anxiety, stressful/damaging/painful experiences, such as varying forms of abuse, violent crimes, life threatening or dangerous experiences, bullying etc....
PTSD will often vary in symptoms and severity and may produce flashbacks, nightmares, painful intrusive stressful memories and changes in your reactions and response to certain things...
Self-Harm
Self-harm can take many forms and there may not always be a trigger or a specific reason as to why one may self-harm. Your reasoning for self-harming may change over time and evolve with your circumstances e.g. personally, emotionally, your mental/physical health.
Reasons for self-harm could include;
- Feeling like you need to punish yourself
- Feeling like you don't belong
- To feel in control
- Expression of distress e.g. emotional pain/trauma
- To relieve bad feelings and overwhelming tension, anger, hatred of yourself
- A cry for help
- A repose to thoughts you may be having e.g. negative or emotional
Other Co-Occurring complications include;
- Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Alcohol and / or substance abuse
- Schizophrenia
continued...
Other Emotional Challenges include;
- Low Self-Esteem - having a poor perception of yourself, feelings of unworthiness and a sense of low self-worth. You may feel like you don't deserve anything or anyone.
- Anger Management Issues - angry outbursts that may be unpredictable and may catch you unawares. Losing tour temper quickly and in an overly aggressive way, maybe even at the smallest of things. The anger felt may not necessarily be directed toward others but more towards yourself.
- Suicidal thoughts/ideations - can occur for many reasons, some people may feel trapped in an abyss that they feel there is no way out of. You may feel hopeless, unworthy, unloved. You may have personal/health/financial worries etc.... No matter how dark it may seem, I urge you to believe that things will improve by reaching out and asking for help. There is always someone there to listen. Anonymously at the end of a helpline, or via your GP or A&E.
“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”
― William W. Purkey
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