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This includes disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder - previously called manic depressive illness), where you lose touch with reality.
Your ability to make sense of thoughts, feelings and other information is seriously affected - what you see, hear and feel is real to you, but people around you do not share your experiences.
Effective medication and support from professionals mean that most people who experience this type of illness are able to live productive and rewarding lives.
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This is where you experience overwhelming feelings of sadness, anxiety, fear, inability to sleep, loss of interest in things you once enjoyed, changes in appetite etc.These changes make it difficult to cope with work, study, relationships and other demands. Most of us feel sad, discouraged, or low every so often, but for some this mood doesn’t go away. If you feel like this for a month or more, and it gets in the way of daily living, you could be depressed.
Picking up depression in young people is important because it often occurs with other mental health disorders, most commonly anxiety, disruptive behavior, or substance abuse disorders, as well as with other serious illnesses, such as diabetes. Early diagnosis and treatment of depression is critical to healthy emotional, social and behavioral development.
Most mood disorders can be effectively treated, usually with a combination of medication and therapy, which help you understand your illness, manage your symptoms, and lead a satisfying life. If you’re in doubt about whether or not you or someone close to is ill, you should seek advice from your GP or a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or mental health nurse.
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