Living With Mental Illness

In this video, we hear the stories of various individuals, all of them living with some form of Depression, Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or ADHD. Each participant in the video explains what their day-to-day life is like while suffering from mental illness, and how people with the same diagnosis can typically experience different symptoms.

Depression and Anxiety are the more common of mental health concerns and they may appear to be quite similar on the surface, but their symptoms are different. Depression will typically cause an individual to feel “down” and exhausted (represented in the video by a car running empty on fuel), whereas anxiety will cause feelings of panic and fear around situations that have not yet or may never occur (hundreds of bubbles filled with worries). According to the Government of Canada’s website, its estimated that over 3 million Canadians live with a mood or anxiety disorder and 27 % of those people state that the disorder significantly impacts their life.[1] The other two disorders that are discussed in the video are OCD and ADHD, which also share some similarities but are very different when focusing on their symptoms. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a form of an anxiety disorder, but specifically triggers repetitive and obsessive thoughts and behaviour – like the video’s dripping faucet with irrational thoughts that can’t be turned off.  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects an individual’s attention span and concentration and will also determine how impulsive or active the person may be.[2]

While ADHD treatment typically involves Behavioural Therapy and medication; anxiety, depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can all be effectively managed with various types of Psychotherapy, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.  At The Therapy Centre, our team of skilled and dedicated clinicians offer this technique to clients living with an array of mental health concerns including each one outlined in the video. We also provide services to clients suffering from Identity Issues, Trauma and Eating Disorder. Our offices are located at 2525 Old Bronte Road in Oakville and 849 Upper Wentworth Street in Hamilton – just minutes from the QEW and easily accessible from Peel Region, Halton Hills, Stoney Creek and Niagara Region.

Video Source: BuzzFeed Video. (2016, December 6). Buzzfeed Video – living with a mental disorder (Video File). Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=45&v=ezI2W32yNg8

[1] Mood and anxiety disorders in Canada. (2015 June 3). Government of Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/mood-anxiety-disorders–canada.html

[2] Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ( n.d.) Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Retrieved from: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder

Back