What it is Bulimia nervosa involves repeated episodes of binge eating (eating an unusually large amount of food with a sense of loss of control), followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain (purging by vomiting or laxatives, excessive exercise, or…
What it is Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by: Significant restriction of energy intake leading to low body weight (relative to age, sex, development, and health) Intense fear of weight gain or persistent behavior that interferes with weight…
What it is Delusional disorder involves one or more fixed, false beliefs that persist for a month or longer, without the broad disorganization seen in schizophrenia. Outside of the delusional topic, thinking and daily functioning can be relatively intact. The…
What it is Schizoaffective disorder includes features of schizophrenia (psychosis) plus significant mood episodes: Depressive type: psychosis with major depressive episodes Bipolar type: psychosis with manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes A key feature is psychotic symptoms that also occur for at…
What it is Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, perceives reality, and relates to others. It typically begins in late teens to early adulthood. With modern treatment and support, many people manage symptoms, work,…
What it is Learning differences include conditions like dyslexia (reading), dyscalculia (math), and dysgraphia (writing), as well as language disorders and processing differences. These are not indicators of intelligence; they reflect diverse ways the brain processes information. Without recognition and…
What it is Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects social communication, sensory processing, and patterns of behavior or interests. It exists on a spectrum: people have different support needs across settings and over time. Many autistic individuals prefer identity-first…
What it is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that affect daily functioning. Many people aren’t diagnosed until adolescence or adulthood. ADHD is manageable with skills, supports, and (for many) medication. ADHD often…
What they are Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) are repetitive self-grooming habits that cause hair loss or skin damage. The two most common are: Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder): recurrent pulling of hair (scalp, brows, lashes, beard, body hair). Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder: recurrent…
What it is Hoarding Disorder involves persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions—regardless of their actual value—due to a perceived need to save them and distress about letting them go. This leads to clutter that congests living areas and impairs…
