Lesson 2.2 Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder

Be sure to scroll down to learn about the first three common mental diagnoses.

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are a group of related conditions, each having unique symptoms. However, all anxiety disorders have one thing in common: persistent, excessive fear or worry in situations that are not threatening.

Video: “Anxiety, What I Wish People Know” [2:10]

Krishna Lous shares her story about anxiety to help end the silence around mental health stigma.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood, energy and ability to think clearly. People with bipolar experience high and low moods—known as mania and depression—which differ from the typical ups-and-downs most people experience.

Video: “My Dad Has Bipolar Disorder – I Love Him” [10:32]

Theo Bennett shares his story of supporting his father who was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a condition characterized by difficulties regulating emotion. This means that people who experience BPD feel emotions intensely and for extended periods of time, and it is harder for them to return to a stable baseline after an emotionally triggering event.

Video: “Living with Borderline Personality Disorder” [12:10]

Jennifer Packer shares her story about living with and managing Borderline Personality Disorder.