The Types of Mental Health Conditions Treated at Iremia Psychiatric Care in Tampa, FL
Peace of mind begins with the right care – let’s navigate your mental health together.
Living with an untreated or undiagnosed mental health condition can be overwhelming for you and your loved ones. Mental health affects so many areas of our lives. So when our mental health is out of balance, everything else is too.
Making the choice to get help for your mental health is no easy task. Especially if you’ve tried to get help before only to get treatment that doesn’t work or makes you feel worse.
But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone – treatment options are available.
And we’re here to make your treatment and healing easier.
So whether you think you may have an undiagnosed mental health condition or you need help managing a condition you’ve been diagnosed with, know that you’re in the best care.
Take some time to read through the conditions we treat at Iremia Psychiatric Care, located in Tampa, FL, and see how we can help you finally find balance and relief.
Mood Disorders
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by nonstop feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyed.
MDD can cause physical symptoms including:
- Fatigue
- Sleeping more or trouble sleeping
- Loss or increase in appetite
- Trouble concentrating
In severe cases of MDD, affected people may have suicidal thoughts.
MDD is caused by a combination of factors including genetics, imbalanced brain chemicals, hormonal changes, and life experiences like trauma or prolonged stress.
Treatment often includes a combination of antidepressant medications and therapy. When MDD is severe, treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may be used.
Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar I Disorder is a mood disorder defined by at least one manic episode that lasts at least seven days or is severe enough to require hospitalization. The manic episodes often alternate with depressive episodes.
Manic episodes involve:
- Extreme energy
- Impulsivity
- Decreased need for sleep
- Psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations are sometimes involved
Bipolar I is caused by a combination of genetics, brain chemical imbalances, and environmental stressors.
Treatment typically includes mood stabilizers (such as lithium), antipsychotic medications, and psychotherapy to help regulate mood and improve coping skills.
Bipolar II Disorder
Bipolar II Disorder is a mood disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of major depression and hypomania. Hypomania is a less severe form of mania that lasts for at least four days and doesn’t cause significant impairment or psychotic symptoms.
While individuals with bipolar II disorder experience mood instability, they don’t have full manic episodes like those with bipolar I. The causes of bipolar II are similar to bipolar I, including:
- Genetics
- Imbalanced brain chemicals
- Environmental factors
Treatment involves mood stabilizers, antidepressants (used cautiously), psychotherapy, and lifestyle management to help maintain stability and prevent mood swings.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs seasonally. This mental disorder most commonly happens during the fall and winter months when there’s less sunlight.
Some symptoms of SAD include:
- Low energy
- Irritability
- Sleeping more
- Increased appetite
- Difficulty concentrating
SAD is thought to be due to decreased sunlight, which then affects melatonin levels, serotonin levels, and circadian rhythms (the body’s sleep-wake cycle).
Treatment is targeted at increasing sunlight and treating depressive symptoms with antidepressants. If sunlight isn’t available, using light therapy to mimic natural sunlight can help.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This condition is characterized by mood swings, irritability, and physical symptoms during certain times of the menstrual cycle.
The exact cause of PMDD is unknown, but there are certain risk factors that increase the risk of having PMDD. These risk factors include:
- Traumatic events
- Having an anxiety disorder
- Smoking cigarettes
- Obesity
Treatment includes antidepressant medications, anxiety medications, and sometimes hormonal therapy. Certain lifestyle changes including exercise, stress reduction, and diet changes may also be helpful.
Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic mental health disorder that’s characterized by extreme and persistent worry about different aspects of life including:
- Work
- Health
- Relationships
What makes the worry from GAD different is that it’s often out of proportion to the situation. GAD can even cause physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, trouble concentrating, and nausea. Some people may be able to function or even excel despite their anxiety – a condition called high-functioning anxiety.
GAD is believed to result from a combination of genetics, brain chemical imbalances, and life stressors.
Treatment typically involves a combination of therapy and medication. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps teach people different ways of thinking and reacting to stressors. Medications that treat anxiety include types that you take daily and sometimes as needed for excess anxiety.
Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder is a condition that’s characterized by sudden, recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. Along with feelings of significant anxiety, there’s often physical symptoms like:
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
The cause of panic disorder is a combination of genetics, environmental factors, and imbalanced brain chemicals. Treatment includes anxiety medication, psychotherapy, and relaxation techniques.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) is a mental disorder defined as an intense and persistent fear of social situations. Affected people feel they might be judged, embarrassed, or humiliated during social situations. This fear can lead to avoidance of social interactions. It can make everyday activities like speaking in public, meeting new people, or even eating in front of others extremely distressing.
Social anxiety disorder often causes physical symptoms like:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Nausea
The condition is caused by environmental factors including controlling or intrusive parenting during childhood, other environmental factors, and stressful life events.
Treatment includes medications to improve anxiety and psychotherapy.
Performance Anxiety Disorder
Performance Anxiety Disorder is a form of anxiety specifically related to public speaking or high-pressure situations. It’s also referred to as stage fright.
Symptoms happen before an event and can be both mental and physical, including:
- Excessive worry
- Racing thoughts
- Self-doubt
- Increased heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Nausea
- Difficulty speaking or concentrating
This anxiety condition is often caused by a combination of factors, including a fear of negative evaluation, past negative experiences, perfectionism, and increased sensitivity to stress.
Treatment options include psychotherapy (talk therapy) and another type of therapy called exposure therapy. This helps by gradually exposing people to anxiety-causing situations. By doing so, it can help to reduce fear and anxiety over time.
Medications are also sometimes used to help manage the physical symptoms that happen during these stressful situations.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Traumatic events that can cause PTSD include war, assault, accients, or natural disasters.
Symptoms of PTSD include:
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Hypervigilance
- Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli
- Emotional distress
PTSD results from an overactive stress response in the brain that’s triggered by a traumatic event.
Treatment typically involves trauma-focused psychotherapy as well as medications to help with anxiety, depression, and in some cases nightmares.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Personality Disorders
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder marked by intense emotional instability, impulsive behaviors, unstable relationships, and fear of abandonment. People with BPD may also:
- Experience mood swings
- Have difficulty regulating emotions
- Engage in self-destructive behaviors
BPD results from genetic factors and traumatic childhood experiences that affect brain development. Treatment primarily involves psychotherapy to improve emotional control and coping skills. Medications are sometimes used to help manage specific symptoms like anxiety or mood swings.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects attention, impulse control, and activity levels.
The symptoms of ADHD greatly interfere with daily life and often include:
- Difficulty focusing
- Forgetfulness
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
ADHD is mainly caused by genetics. However, some research suggests that exposure to toxins during pregnancy may also contribute.
Treatment options for people with ADHD include stimulant medications (like Adderall and Ritalin), non-stimulant medications (like Strattera), behavioral therapy, and lifestyle strategies that promote structure and organization.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. The severity and presentation of ASD symptoms vary widely but often show traits like:
- Difficulty with social cues
- Repetitive behaviors
- Strong interests in specific topics
While the causes of ASD continue to be studied, current research shows that it’s primarily caused by genetics and certain environmental factors during pregnancy.
Treatment of ASD focuses on behavioral interventions like behavioral therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. In some cases, medications to manage symptoms like anxiety or hyperactivity may be needed.
Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. Symptoms of schizophrenia include:
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Disorganized thinking
- Social withdrawal
This condition is linked to genetics, brain structure abnormalities, and imbalances in brain chemicals, particularly dopamine. Treatment includes antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy.
Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective Disorder is a mental illness that involves a combination of symptoms from schizophrenia (like hallucinations and delusions) and mood disorders (like depression or mania).
Schizoaffective disorder is often mistaken for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. But this condition is different because both psychotic and mood symptoms occur at the same time.
The exact cause of schizoaffective disorder is unknown, but it’s thought to be a combination of:
- Genetics
- Social factors
- Trauma
- Stress
Treatment involves a combination of antipsychotic medications to manage psychotic symptoms, mood stabilizers or antidepressants for mood regulation, and psychotherapy to improve coping skills and daily functioning.
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that are performed to reduce anxiety. Some examples of common compulsions include excessive handwashing, checking, and counting.
The cause of OCD is a combination of:
- Genetics
- Environmental factors
- Imbalances in brain chemicals
Treatment includes exposure and response prevention (ERP), a type of psychotherapy, that helps to decrease compulsive behavior. Medication is also used to help improve symptoms.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition defined by obsessive preoccupation with perceived flaws in one’s appearance. This preoccupation often leads to compulsive behaviors such as mirror-checking, excessive grooming, or even undergoing cosmetic procedures.
The condition can cause significant distress, leading to social withdrawal, anxiety, and depression. BDD is caused by a combination of genetics, social factors and environmental factors (like beauty standards or childhood bullying).
Treatment often includes a combination of therapy and medication to help with obsessive thoughts and anxiety.
Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that involves extreme food restriction, excessive weight loss, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image.
People with anorexia often see themselves as overweight even when they’re dangerously underweight. The condition can lead to serious health complications including:
- Malnutrition
- Heart problems
- Thinning of the bones (osteoporosis)
- Organ failure
Treatment includes psychotherapy, nutritional rehabilitation, and sometimes medications to help with anxiety or depression.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder involves recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time (usually less than two hours). It’s associated with feelings of loss of control, shame, and distress.
The causes of binge eating disorder vary and can include:
- Genetics
- Substance use
- Altered brain structure
- Imbalanced brain chemicals
- Social factors like family weight problems or eating problems
- Childhood trauma
- Childhood obesity
Treatment of binge eating disorder includes psychotherapy, medications, and structured eating plans to help with healthier behaviors.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder that’s characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or laxative use to prevent weight gain. These behaviors are also called purging.
Unlike anorexia, people with bulimia may maintain a normal weight but still struggle with intense body dissatisfaction and guilt after eating. The cycle of bingeing and purging can cause health problems like:
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Digestive issues
- Dental erosion
- Low blood pressure
- Dry skin
- Hair loss
The exact cause of bulimia is unknown, but it’s thought to be due to many things including imbalanced brain chemicals and environmental factors. Bulimia is treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication.
Movement Disorders (Related to Medication Use)
Tardive Dyskinesia
Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is a neurological movement disorder that causes involuntary movements. TD is caused by long-term use of medications that block a brain chemical called dopamine. These medications include antipsychotics and certain anti-nausea medications.
Symptoms of TD include involuntary, repetitive movements like:
- Facial grimacing
- Lip smacking
- Tongue protrusion (the tongue sticks out of the mouth)
- Jerking movements of the arms or legs
Symptoms may continue even after stopping the medication responsible for TD. Treatment for TD is limited, but some medications have shown to help symptoms.
Akathisia
Akathisia is a movement disorder characterized by an intense inner restlessness and an uncontrollable urge to move. Similarly to TD, akathisia is most commonly caused by medications that block dopamine (like antipsychotics).
People with akathisia may:
- Constantly shift their weight
- Pace back and forth
- Fidget
- Be unable to sit still
Treatment includes switching medications or lowering the dose of the medication causing akathisia. There are also additional medications that can be used to treat symptoms. Prognosis is good when akathisia is recognized and treated early.
Ready to take the first step toward better mental health?
Schedule an appointment with Iremia Psychiatric Care today and start your journey to balance and well-being.
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