Mental disorders
Serious health conditions like mental disorders have a wide range of negative effects on the general well-being, daily lives, and families of millions of people.
The term “mental disorders” refers to a broad range of illnesses and conditions that have an impact on how we feel, behave, think, and live.
Eleven Popular Forms of Mental disorders
The Most Popular Forms of Mental Health Conditions Include:
1- Anxiety Disorders
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is when you worry and stress too much most days for at least six months. While everyone occasionally feels stressed, people with anxiety disorders may feel anxiety so intense that it becomes difficult to manage daily tasks and deal with daily life, including work, studies, and relationships. According to Dr. Gratzer, “the anxiety essentially takes on a life of its own and leaves a person not only symptomatic but also nonfunctional.” A person with anxiety may also experience physical symptoms like fatigue, trouble concentrating, muscle tension, and sleep issues in addition to feelings of worry and dread.
What causes GAD, the most prevalent mental health issue in women. An individual’s biology, psychology, and stressful and traumatic life events can cause GAD.
Research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy that focuses on finding, challenging, and changing negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, is the best treatment. Along with relaxation exercises, meditation, and stress management, medications can be used.
2- Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is known as ADHD. It was formerly known as “ADD,” but recently the disorder was given a new name because of its hyperactivity. which is what the “H” stands for, was discovered to occur in some individuals without attention.
Other ADHD symptoms frequently co-occur with impulsive behaviors.
Despite what you may have heard, 50% of children with ADHD do not outgrow it and go on to develop adult symptoms of ADHD that are primarily inattentive.
3- Autism
Autism, also called Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a developmental disorder that is frequently identified in infancy. Although the symptoms of autism vary greatly from patient to patient, they include difficulties speaking and interacting with others. and nonverbal communication is frequently present. With the help of psychotherapy, some autism symptoms may be lessened.
Mental illnesses affect a person’s thoughts, actions, and emotions. Treatment can help, but it can be extremely difficult for both the person and those around them. People with primary mental illnesses such as depression, OCD, ADHD, anxiety, autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, mood disorders, and more are treated by Alter Behavioral Health.
Start today with your free diagnostic examination, and we’ll assist you in obtaining the necessary care.
4- bipolar disorder
Manic-depressive disorder, also known as bipolar affective disorder, is a chronic illness that causes extreme mood swings, including high states (mania) and low states (depression).
According to Dr. Gratzer, “Hollywood portrays people with bipolar disorder as people who are really happy then really sad, which is not really what we see.” “In the real world, people who are going through a manic episode can be really excited, go several days without getting much sleep, and exhibit unusual and reckless behavior like driving erratically.”
There is no known cause for bipolar disorder, but scientists think there is a strong genetic component at work. Someone with bipolar disorder may experience an episode due to stress.
Considering the wide range of symptoms, bipolar disorder is challenging to diagnose, and medical professionals must first rule out a number of other illnesses.
The two main forms of therapy are psychotherapy and drugs like mood stabilizers and antidepressants.
5- Depression
Clinical depression or major depressive disorder (MDD) is when a person has a sad mood for more than two weeks. People with depression can also experience physical symptoms like sleep issues, changes in appetite, and difficulty concentrating, in addition to feelings of sadness, emptiness, and irritability.
What causes it: This complex and incredibly prevalent mood disorder can be influenced by a person’s brain chemistry, personality, stress, family history of depression, and other factors. Sometimes a condition like cancer or hyperthyroidism can lead to depression or vice versa.
Depression can be treated with either psychotherapy or medication, either alone or in combination. With the proper care, clinical depression can be a lifelong condition that is manageable.
6- Eating Disorders
An “eating disorder” is a type of mental illness that is marked by a bad relationship with food. Even though these disorders seem to be about food, they are often caused by bigger problems, like a lack of control. Eating disorders are very serious and need to be treated by professionals. According to estimates, 9% of people worldwide suffer from an eating disorder.
Typical eating disorders include:
- Nervous anorexia
- Anorexia nervosa
- Anorexia nervosa
- eating disorder PCA
- Rationing disorder
7- borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is the most prevalent type of personality disorder and is defined as a pattern of behavior that is significantly at odds with the expectations of a person’s particular culture and causes them significant distress and impairment. Other types of personality disorders include histrionic, narcissistic, and antisocial personality disorders.
Someone will struggle greatly to manage their thoughts, emotions, and relationships and will be unable to comprehend or alter the behavior that is causing them issues. The core of borderline personality disorder is the inability to reconcile one’s actions and thoughts with societal norms and expectations.
What causes it: In addition to biological, social, and environmental factors, BDP also has a genetic component. According to some studies, people with BDP have overactive brain regions that regulate emotion, impulsivity, and aggression.
How it’s usually handled: Specialized treatment programs can greatly enhance the life of someone with BPD, now that the disorder is more widely understood and diagnosed. Psychosocial therapies like dialectic behavior therapy, which uses mindfulness and puts equal weight on accepting and validating initial thoughts and experiences and making positive changes to behaviors and management, are one way to treat the disorder.
8- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was once thought to be a type of anxiety disorder. Now, it is thought to be a type of disorder caused by trauma or stress. Even though PTSD is a normal emotional response to something scary or dangerous, some people’s memories of the scary or dangerous event still make them feel bad years after the event.
Other signs can be the avoidance of people and places that trigger traumatic memories, a loss of interest in past interests, an easy temper, and the inability to feel love or pleasure.
What causes it: Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event goes on to develop PTSD, but risk factors can include prior trauma, a history of substance abuse or other mental health issues, and guilt or shame related to the event.
How it’s usually handled: Every person recovers from PTSD in a unique way, and research indicates that recovery from trauma is aided by having a support network. In addition to medications that help with PTSD symptoms like depression and sleep issues, counseling and therapy are frequent components of treatment plans.
9- Psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and others
Nearly 300,000 Canadians struggle with the complex mental illness of schizophrenia. It can have an impact on a person’s thoughts and behavior, and its onset typically happens in late adolescence or early adulthood.
What causes it: Schizophrenia is thought to be caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors, similar to the causes of many other mental health issues. People are more likely to develop the illness if a family member already has it.
How it’s usually treated: Medicines like antipsychotics or mood stabilizers, talking therapies, and in some cases, brain stimulation therapies can also be helpful, are among the treatments.
10- Panic disorder
Panic disorders are a type of anxiety disorder in which people have panic attacks over and over again and without warning. Physical signs like a racing heart, shortness of breath, and occasionally nausea or vomiting may go along with the sense of impending doom.
Avoidance of places and circumstances where a person has previously experienced anxiety symptoms is one of the noticeable behavioral changes that can accompany panic disorders.
What causes it: panic disorders are influenced by biological, environmental, and psychological factors, just like other anxiety disorders. It’s not a given that having panic attacks means you have a panic disorder, but persistent worry and fear of attacks are signs that something may be wrong.
How it’s usually handled: Because anxiety disorders and mood disorders sometimes coexist, there are a variety of possible treatments. Once more, CBT works well as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other medical or psychological interventions.
11- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), used to be called an anxiety disorder, but now it has its own name. OCD is characterized by obsessions, which are persistent intrusive thoughts.
Common ways to deal with these kinds of obsessive thoughts are to do a certain ritual or “compulsion.” Compulsions include compulsive cleaning, checking, hoarding, and arranging. Obsessions include fears of dirt, germs, and diseases as well as persistent doubt (such as constantly questioning whether you locked the door or turned off the oven).
These compulsions and obsessions not only take up a lot of time, but they can also be very stressful for relationships and at work.
OCD is thought to affect one in 40 people and is influenced by environmental, psychological, and genetic factors. There may be a connection between OCD and specific brain chemicals like serotonin. according to ongoing research into its potential biological causes.
How it’s typically treated: While there are many different approaches, cognitive behavioral therapy, and antidepressants frequently combine to treat this condition.
What’s Good!
These mental health conditions can be treated. From medication to outpatient talk therapy sessions, doctors and mental health specialists can provide a range of levels of care.
Even today, by asking for assistance, you can begin to improve your mental health disorder. Many treatment facilities provide telehealth services, so you don’t even need to leave your house.
Visit a local mental health center online to begin your path to recovery and wellness.
References and resources: World Health Organization WHO, MedlinePlus, BetterHealth Channel, WebMD, NHS.
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