​​​Let our experts lend their expertise to address common concerns on psychological and behavioural issues. Send us an email ([email protected]) if you would like to read about specific conditions not published here. We will endeavor to publish the most commonly asked conditions.​
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A
Addictions
addictions, gambling, drugs, Internet, sex

​Addiction affects a person both physically and psychologically. A person can become dependent on either substance (i.e. drugs or alcohol) or to certain activities (e.g. gambling, sex, the Internet), leading to recurrent social, interpersonal, or legal problems.​

Adjustment Disorders
suicide, depression, alcohol abuse, sleep problems

​Adjustment disorders may take up to three months to show up after a stressor occurs. The symptoms can vary considerably, usually appearing as depressive or anxiety symptoms, and sometimes even both. Physical changes in behaviour are most common in children and the elderly, but this can happen in any age group.​

Anger Management
anger, aggression

Anger is a natural human response to perceived threats. When a person experiences anger, they may notice their heart rate and blood pressure go up, as do the levels of your adrenaline and noradrenaline. These physical responses are the body’s instinctive response to being attacked, but anger can turn destructive when it gets out of control. ​

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
hyperactivity, distracted, disorganised, impulsive, figety

​ADHD is a neuro-developmental disorder which usually begins from an early age, usually before seven years old. According to research, this condition is due to brain functioning or development, such as genetic factors, injuries, toxins and infections.​

Autism Spectrum Disorders
repetitive behaviours, rigid, non-verbal, Asperger's syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

ASD is a range of developmental disorders. Persons with ASD have difficulties understanding the perspectives and emotions of other people. They may not understand social norms and cues, and may appear to be inflexible and need to do things in specific ways.​

B
Binge Drinking (a form of alcohol abuse)
alcohol addiction, intoxication, poor concentration

​Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of alcohol to intoxication in a short period of time. Alcohol abusers drink despite recurrent social, interpersonal, or legal problems as a result of alcohol use. Some examples of such problems include sustaining injuries while driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, or failure to attend to important responsibilities at work, home or school. ​

Bipolar Disorder
Mood Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. The term 'bipolar' means that there are two extremes of mood – depressed ('low') and manic ('high'​). There are varying severities of this disorder. Mild cases may pass for normal for many years. In severe cases, the pers​on may become agitated or psychotic.
C
Community Mental Health
psychosocial support, medication compliance, community reintegration

​It takes a village to support mental health recovery. The focus of community rehabilitation is on empowering the people with mental health challenges towards independent living in the community, and strengthening family relationships.​

Coping with bereavement
sad, emotional numbness, grief, crying

Grief is a natural response to loss, such as the death of a loved one. We all experience grief differently, journeying along different stages of grief, emotions and intensity. So how does grief look like?​


Coping with Change and Overcoming Stress

​Stress is a part of modern living. There is, however, a difference between “good stress” and “bad stress”. “Good stress” can be productive because it provides us with motivation we need to scale new challenges or overcome difficulties. Stress only becomes harmful when it begins to disrupt aspects of our lives, such as work, family, personal life and health.​​

D
Dealing with a Crisis
denial, shock, anger, feelings of helplessness

​Crisis can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or economic background. Sudden or extreme situations such as a death or rapid change can overwhelm a person’s ability to cope, sending them into crisis. As such, the definition of what is considered a crisis differs from person to person.​

Dementia
forgetful, confused

​We naturally worry for our aging loved ones as they become forgetful over time, thinking it might be an early onset of dementia. Dementia, however, is not a disease in itself but rather a description of a group of symptoms related to progressive loss of cognitive function. ​

Depression
sadness, insomnia, weight loss, suicide, agitation

​Feeling sad and depressed is a natural response to setbacks and loss. For most of us, over time we learn to overcome our problems or accept changes in our lives. But for others, the sense of despair and hopelessness can become so severe that it dominates their lives and cripples them from living a full life.​

Dysthymia
dysthymia, persistent depressive disorder, PDD, depression

Persistent Depressive Disorder, also known as dysthymia, is a chronic mood disorder characterised by persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.​

G
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD, anxiety, negative thoughts, helplessness, confusion

​​​Anxiety and fear are common emotions. ​​In Generalised Anxiety Disorder, however, the anxiety symptoms occurs most of the day, persistent and may not be restricted to any particular event.​​​

H
Holiday Blues
feeling blue, loneliness, sadness

​The “holiday blues” is a common phenomenon when people feel stressed or overwhelmed nearing the festive season, which starts towards year-end. The absence of close connections may be especially difficult to cope with during the season of gatherings.​

I
Intellectual Disability

​A person with intellectual disability faces more difficulty than others in grasping concepts and solving problems. They may also experience accompanying development disabilities such as autism, as well as underlying mental disorders that can seriously affect their quality of life, family relationships, personal care and independence.​

M
Medication Management
psychiatric drugs, medication management

Psychiatric medicines have changed the lives of people with mental illnesses for the better—many people have gone on to live fulfilling lives with the help of these medicines. As there is a wide range of safe and effective psychiatric medicines available today, it is important for you to understand what medicines your doctor has prescribed to you.​

O
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCD, irrational fears, mental rituals, checking, cleaning

​People with OCD experience the symptoms of “obsession”, which are defined as recurrent persistent ideas, thoughts, images or impulses. In order to reduce anxiety and find relief from these unrelenting obsessions, a person may develop “compulsions” or behaviours.​

P
Panic Disorder
panic attacks, cold sweat, giddiness

​Panic disorder tends to have a sudden onset, most frequently during late 20s and early 30s with most patients vividly remembering their first episodes. These episodes usually lasts no more than a few minutes, but in unusual instances, can return in waves for a period of up to two hours.​

Personality Disorder
poor relationships, drug, alcohol abuse, self-harm

​Our personalities are shaped by our upbringing, the culture we live in and the prevailing societal norms.​When a person’s usual ways of thinking, feeling, relating to others and to their own selves become extreme within the society they live in, these “out of the ordinary” personalities can be classified as personality disorders.​

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
intrusive thoughts, psychological distress, numbness

​Trauma can come in the form of a physical trauma, like assault or injury, or a psychological one, like surviving abuse or war. People who survive major traumatic experiences but remain in emotional and psychological distress are deemed to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Psychosis
mood swings, disturbances, depression, irritability, anger

​​Psychosis happens when a person loses touch with reality. It is not a specific illness, but rather a syndrome showing some degree of disturbance in perception and judgement. It is a distressing condition that affects a person’s thoughts, feelings, communication and behaviour.​

S
Schizophrenia
hallucinations, delusions, disorganised behaviour

​Schizophrenia is commonly misunderstood as 'split personality' but it is actually more a disorder of ‘split reality’. Because of this, schizophrenia is considered a major psychotic illness. It takes a while before people suffering from schizophrenia seek help.​

Sleep and Mental Health

​Having poor quality sleep or insufficient sleep can lead to increased risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease and mood problems. When these sleep issues persist for over a month, cause significant distress and disruption to a person’s life, the condition would be classified as a sleep disorder.​

Social Skills Deficits
poor communication, anxiety disorder, strategies

​Social skills deficits are not just about being anti-social. They involve difficulties or challenges in communication, understanding proper social behaviours and following cues in interactions. 

Y
Youth Mental Distress
self-harm, youth mental health, resilience, adolescence

​Adolescence comes with many challenges; including discovering self-identity, independence and relationships. At this stage, children prefer to be treated as adults and this should be the premise that parents should start with. They also prefer to have their own personal space and have the chance to make decisions without adult interference.​

2024/03/20