Andre
Mental illness represents several mental health conditions. It refers to disorders that can affect your thinking, mood, and behavior. Some of the most common mental health issues include addictive behaviors, anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.
Many individuals have mental health-related concerns at some point in their lives. However, these concerns can become a mental health illness if the ongoing symptoms and signs start causing frequent stress while affecting your abilities to function.
A mental health issue can make you feel miserable and create problems in your life, such as at work, school, or in a relationship. Mostly, you can manage the symptoms for mental illness via psychotherapy (talk therapy) combined with medications.
Mental Health Issues Signs & Symptoms
There is a wide range of signs that point towards an underlying mental health issue, such as:
- Dramatic changes in your appetite and sleeping pattern.
- Severe and frequent mood swings, i.e., feelings of joy shifting to depressing thoughts or vice versa. You may experience several episodes in a day, sometimes within matters of minutes. You may even get unexplained bouts of anger as well.
- Withdrawal from social circle and gatherings
- Problem concentrating, memorizing, remembering, and even thinking logically.
- Problem performing daily tasks such as getting up, eating, going to school work, etc.
- Apathy
- Paranoia
- Body aches and pains
Symptoms of mental illness may vary from person to person, circumstances, and several other factors. However, if you notice any of the following signs in your behavior and emotions, it would be best to contact a mental health expert.
What Causes Mental Illness?
There are various root causes of mental illness, depending on various personal and social circumstances and life events. Still, some of the most common are:
- Family history and genetics
- Life events such as personal experiences, neglect, abuse (physical, emotional and sexual) especially if experienced during childhood
- Certain biological factors such as brain injury, chemical imbalances in your brain, traumatic head injury, etc
- In case a mother gets exposed to toxic chemicals during pregnancy
- Abuse of recreational drugs and alcohol
- Sentimental shocks such as being diagnosed with a severe medical illness such as cancer
- Death of a loved one
- Divorce
Risk Factors Involved in Mental Health Issues
Numerous catalysts can be the contributing factor in putting you at an increased risk of developing a mental health problem.
You are more prone to mental illness if any of your parents or siblings also have a history of such issues. In case if you or your loved one has a damaging brain injury in the past, then you may want to monitor the behavior for possible symptoms of mental illnesses.
People who are addicted to using marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, and other recreational drugs can develop mental health disorders such as paranoia, panic attack disorder, bipolar disorders, etc.
Children who have been victims of emotional neglect from their parents, siblings, and friends or who were being exposed to physical violence and sexual abuse usually suffer from mental health issues at some point in their lives.
If you have had mental health issues in the past, beware as it can always re-surface at any point in your life due to certain life events, and emotional, psychological or physical trauma.
Mental Health Issues and Their Complications
Mental health issues have tendencies to cause emotional and physical disabilities. Neglecting an underlying mental illness for too long may cause you to inherit lifelong behavioral and emotional instability.
Therefore, mental health issues can be really complicated and should not be taken lightly. Moreover, you may develop multiple mental illnesses simultaneously.
For example, a person suffering from depression may also suffer from bi-polar disorder, addiction disorders, panic attacks, anxiety, or OCD at the same time.
There are other social complications that are a result of mental illness, such as relationship difficulties, financial problems, work performance issues, weakened immune system, suicidal and homicidal thoughts, etc.
Prevention against Mental Illnesses
Although there is no set formula to treat mental illness, generally, it can be controlled by managing stress, boosting your health, mental and emotional resilience, and self-esteem.
In case you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from a mental health issue, you can contact your local doctor or a therapist for help. They will identify the triggers and plan a course of action for treatment.
However, just a visit or a getting a prescription is not going to help. You must stick to your follow-up schedule and do not miss appointments with your therapist or psychiatrist.
Unfortunately, mental illnesses carries a social stigma even in today’s advanced world. However, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Reach out to a family member or a friend for support, especially when you are having suicidal thoughts or thoughts about harming others.
Embrace for Emergencies
Always be prepared for emergencies such as sudden emotional or psychological breakdowns. Keep your doctor’s or therapist’s number on speed-dial. Call a loved one, 911, or your local emergency services, especially if you are having suicidal thoughts.
US citizens can call the National Suicide Prevention lifeline to speak to an advisor 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.
Most importantly, remember that a mental health illness is not like a fever or flu that will pass. Therefore, you must get help and support.
They Are Not Dramatic
If you have a loved one or a child who has a mental illness, please understand they are not seeking attention. This may trivialize their suffering even further for children, and people with disabilities are at a higher risk to get overwhelmed with your denial or reaction, leading to self-harm or suicide.
Please do not leave them in isolation. Instead, communicate with them and encourage them to seek help by ensuring that no one will judge them.
