Concerns A to Z
In-depth, NHS and NICE-sourced write-ups on the conditions and concerns people bring to therapy: symptoms, causes, how they're diagnosed, and what treatment actually looks like.
Showing 24 of 50 concerns
Self Harm
Self harm is a way of coping with feelings that feel unbearable. Why it happens, what NICE recommends, and how to get help in the UK, including right now.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder explained: NPD symptoms, grandiose and covert traits, causes, how it is diagnosed in the UK and what treatment involves.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty affecting reading and spelling. Signs at each age, how UK assessment works and what support is available.
Autistic
Autism in adults explained: common characteristics, how UK autism assessment works, waiting times, masking, autistic burnout and workplace adjustments.
Anxiety
What an anxiety disorder is, the main types, the physical and psychological symptoms, how it is diagnosed in the UK and what NICE recommends as treatment.
AFRID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
ARFID is an eating disorder in which food avoidance is not about weight or body shape. Symptoms, causes, UK diagnosis routes and treatment explained.
Post traumatic stress disorder
PTSD is a condition that can follow a traumatic event. What the symptoms are, what complex PTSD means, and the treatment NICE recommends in the UK.
Depression
Depression explained: the symptoms, the types, what the evidence says about the causes, and the treatments NICE recommends at each level of severity.
Personality disorders
What personality disorders are, the ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR types, the symptoms, how they are diagnosed in the UK and what NICE recommends as treatment.
Schizoaffective disorder
Schizoaffective disorder combines psychotic and mood symptoms. Read the symptoms, the two types, how the NHS diagnoses it and what NICE recommends.
Sleep apnoea
Sleep apnoea stops breathing during sleep and is often mistaken for depression. Symptoms, causes, UK testing and treatment including CPAP explained.
Social anxiety disorder
What social anxiety disorder is, how it differs from shyness, the symptoms, how it is diagnosed in the UK and the treatment NICE recommends for it.
Drug
Drug addiction, or substance use disorder, is a treatable health condition. Signs of drug addiction, what causes it, and how UK drug treatment works.
Suicidal thoughts
Suicidal thoughts are far more common than many people realise. Understand what they mean, why they happen, and how to get help in the UK right now.
Tics / Tourette's
Tourette syndrome explained: what tics are, why swearing is rare, the premonitory urge, functional tics, and how tic disorders are treated in the UK.
Seasonal affective
Seasonal affective disorder is depression that follows a seasonal pattern. Its symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment in the UK, including SAD lamps.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
PMDD is a severe premenstrual condition with a strict timing pattern. Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and PMDD treatment options available in the UK.
Phobias (general)
Phobias are anxiety disorders defined by avoidance, not just fear. The recognised types, the symptoms, how they are diagnosed and how they are treated.
Psychosis
Psychosis means hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking. Signs of psychosis, its causes, and how first episode psychosis is treated in the UK.
Dysthymia
Persistent depressive disorder, once called dysthymia, is low mood lasting two years or more. Symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment in the UK.
Panic disorder
What panic disorder is, how it differs from a one-off panic attack, the symptoms, how it is diagnosed in the UK and what NICE recommends as treatment.
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
OCD is not about being tidy. What obsessive compulsive disorder is, its symptoms, what causes it, and the treatment NICE recommends on the NHS in the UK.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a brain condition affecting sleep and wakefulness. Symptoms, cataplexy, causes, UK diagnosis, treatment and the DVLA rules explained.
Insomnia
Insomnia is trouble falling or staying asleep. What causes insomnia, its symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and why NICE puts CBT-I ahead of sleeping pills.