Mental Health Conditions

Get to know more about different mental health conditions, their symptoms, and steps you can take to feel better.

teenage boy sitting on a stoop
teenage boy sitting on a stoop

When to get help

Mood fluctuations, anxiety, and procrastination are all a part of growing up. But if you notice unhealthy behavior persisting for a long time and impacting your everyday life, it’s a sign you could benefit from professional resources or clinical services.

  • Long-lasting and severe mood swings
  • Excessive fear and worries
  • Dropping out or avoiding social activities
  • Extreme behavioral changes
  • Self-harm
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Significant aggression
  • Inability to self-soothe
  • Trouble separating from parents or family

Mental health conditions

Mental health issues can show up in different ways–in your behavior, in your emotions, and even in your body. Learn about some of the mental health conditions that affect young people and how to spot their symptoms.

Generalized anxiety disorder

A persistent feeling of worry that impacts relationships and everyday tasks, even when life is going well.

Learn more
Generalized anxiety disorder

Panic disorder

Panic disorder involves recurring panic attacks, which are episodes of intense fear when there is no real danger around. These attacks are sudden and can cause physical symptoms, too.

Learn more
Panic disorder

Separation anxiety

Separation anxiety–the fear or worry that comes with separating from a loved one or home–is a normal part of childhood. However, when these worries make it hard to sleep, go to school, and feel confident in other relationships, separation anxiety disorder (SAD) may be at play.

Learn more
Separation anxiety

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

OCD is a condition in which a person struggles with unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repeated behaviors (compulsions).

Learn more
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a traumatic event. Common symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety.

Learn more
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Phobias

A phobia is an extreme, persistent fear that can get in the way of you daily life and activities. Phobias can be social, situational, or specific to a particular object or animal.

social anxiety
Social anxiety/social phobia

It’s normal to feel nervous at times, but intense fear around social or performance situations may point to social anxiety.

Learn more
Specific phobias
Specific phobias

For someone with a phobia, the fear of a specific event, animal, or object is so extreme that it can get in the way of their life.

Learn more
Mental health glossary

Mental health glossary

Explore an alphabetical list of common mental health terms with explanations about what they mean.

View glossary