Categories are problematic and my approach is an individual and person-centred one (see How it works), helping you to find a ‘formula’ to manage the difficulties you are facing and which often combine combinations of various issues to differing extents.

It I can be difficult to express/communicate experience (you might just be feeling down, ‘not right’, stressed or ‘out of balance’). However, the list below are the standard categories into which mental health issues have been organised and in which I am trained. They may sound rather formal – so apologies if this is the case !

It could be that you identify with some of the symptoms mentioned. This as well as completing questionnaires and talking things through will provide a starting point.

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Depression: Low mood or loss of enjoyment most of the day nearly every day for at least 2 weeks; four symptoms of: weight change; sleep problems; restlessness; feeling slowed down; fatigue; worthlessness; concentration difficulties; thoughts about death suicidal ideation; symptoms present beyond 2 months if after bereavement.

Generalized Anxiety: worry about at least two different domains (in addition to content where related to other disorders; worry more days than not for 6 months; worry uncontrollable; worry associated with at least 3 symptoms (restless; easily fatigued; concentration; irritability; muscle tension; sleep disturbance) worries even if mood ok.

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder): Exposed to a traumatic event (threat of injury/death involving intense fear, helplessness, or horror); event re-experienced (images, thoughts, dreams, dissociative flashbacks, often reminded); persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with trauma; persistent physiological symptoms; the above present for at least a month.

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder): recurrent and persistent thoughts deemed intrusive; attempts to ignore or suppress these thoughts; repetitive acts in response to the intrusive thoughts; thoughts/acts are excessive (>1hr/d) and impairing.

Panic: at least four symptoms (heart; sweating; trembling; short of breath; choking; chest pain; nausea; dizzy; derealisation; fear loss of control; fear dying; parasthesias (numb/tingling); chills/hot flush; unexpected and peak within 10 minutes; at least one full PA with 1m impairment due worry/behaviour change.

Agoraphobia: fears situations where escape not possible or where help may not be possible if having panic-like symptoms; avoids these situations.

Social anxiety: fears social situation/performance as believes may humiliate or embarrass self; situation leads to anxiety and person knows it’s excessive; avoids these situations.

Health anxiety: preoccupied by fear of having a disease; fear persists despite contrary medical evaluation; fear has been present for at least 6 months.

Somatization: many physical complaints beginning before 30 yr; sought medical advice and no medical cause or complaints in excess of what would be expected.

Body dysmorphia: preoccupation with imagined and exaggerated defect in appearance; preoccupation causes significant distress.

Specific phobia: scared by a particular object or situation; object/situation provokes immediate anxiety; person recognises response is excessive; avoids object/situation and this impacts on life.

Habit disorder: i.e. hair pulling, skin picking.

Source: DSM IV

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Chronic Pain/long term health conditions & injuries: depression or anxiety as a result of restriction of activities; fixation on physical distress; lack of motivation; detrimental impact on relationships & normal functioning.