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For more information on other health conditions that may affect your mental health, visit our illnesses and disability section.
Mental health illnesses
- Alcoholism, substance abuse, and addictive behavior
- Anxiety disorders
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Austism spectrum disorders and pervasive developmental disorders
- Bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness)
- Borderline personality disorder
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Schizophrenia
Alcoholism, substance abuse, and addictive behavior
Addiction is a lifelong brain disease that causes drug and/or alcohol use despite harmful costs to the addict and to those around him or her. Learn more.
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It can help you cope with a hard situation. For example, anxiety helps one deal with a deadline at the office or can push you to study for a test. But when anxiety becomes an extreme, irrational dread of everyday situations, it can be disabling. Anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Panic disorder
- Social phobia (or social anxiety disorder)
- Specific phobias
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that makes it hard to focus and pay attention. ADHD can make it hard for adults to feel organized, stick with a job, or get to work on time. Learn more.Austism spectrum disorders and pervasive developmental disorders
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) cause problems with social interaction and communication. Learn more.Bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness)
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a serious medical illness that causes shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Learn more.
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness causing unstable moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. Learn more.
Depression
When a woman has depression, it interferes with her daily life and routine, such as going to work or school, taking care of children, and relationships with family and friends. Depression causes pain for the person who has it and for those who care about him or her. Depression is a serious medical illness; it's not something that you have made up in your head. It's more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. Women with depression feel "down" and "low" and "hopeless" for weeks at a time. Learn more.
Postpartum depression is depression that follows the birth of a baby.
Eating disorders
A woman with an eating disorder eats too much, too little, or causes herself to throw up food. Eating disorders can include:
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a real illness. You can get PTSD after living through or seeing a dangerous event, such as war, a hurricane, or bad accident. PTSD makes you feel stressed and afraid even after the danger is over. Learn more.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder. Learn more.
Content last updated March 29, 2010.
Resources last updated March 29, 2010.
A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.200 Independence Avenue, S.W. • Washington, DC 20201
202-690-7650 • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST (closed on federal holidays).
womenshealth.gov
A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
200 Independence Avenue, S.W. • Washington, DC 20201