Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing. Mental illness is an illness just like a physical illness.
Disorders
Categories of diagnoses in these schemes may include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, developmental disorders, personality disorders, and many other categories. Commonly recognized categories of anxiety disorders include specific phobia, Generalized anxiety disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Psychotic disorders centrally involving this domain include Schizophrenia and Delusional disorder. Definitions, assessments, and classifications of mental disorders can vary, but guideline criterion listed in the ICD, DSM and other manuals are widely accepted by mental health professionals. The recognition and understanding of mental disorders has changed over time.
Family
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age-children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly-and they can occur in any family. Relatives can play a key role in the identification and treatment of the teen with a mental illness, with family members themselves often needing help and support.
You can be a better friend by looking for signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and then helping someone you know reach out to some of the following people: family doctor or pediatrician, school counselor or teacher, parent and other family members, psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, or the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
The next time you and your family member visit your doctor or mental health professional, discuss these behaviors and develop a strategy for coping. Family awareness, early identification and prevention are often the first steps to effective treatments.
Symptoms
Today, we classify mental illness based on the symptoms a person experiences and the clinical features of the illness, such as feeling hopeless or having delusions. But as we continue to gain a clearer understanding of how specific genes interact with illnesses or behaviors, we may be able to develop a much more sophisticated classification system that is directly linked to a biological cause of mental illness, rather than just symptoms.
For instance, some disorders have similar symptoms and clinical features but are actually very different in terms of their underlying biology. Thus, symptoms related to behavior or our mental lives clearly reflect variations or abnormalities in brain function.
Persons suffering from any of the severe mental disorders present with a variety of symptoms, may include inappropriate anxiety, disturbances of thought and perception, and cognitive dysfunction. Often it is a good idea to first describe the symptoms and/or problems to your family physician or clergy.
Treatment
Treatment may include psychotherapy (individual, family, group), skills programs (learning, social skills, behavior), and psychiatric medication, and be provided in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, or day treatment settings. This may include special schools, residential placements, hospitals, private offices, or community clinics.
Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are two major treatment options, as well as supportive interventions. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan.
Without treatment the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering: unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide and wasted lives; The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States.
Early identification and treatment is of vital importance; By ensuring access to the treatment and recovery supports that are proven effective, recovery is accelerated and the further harm related to the course of illness is minimized.
Or perhaps you have a brother who seems in the grips of full-blown paranoia. No matter how much you try, you just cannot reach him.
He's convinced that the FBI is watching his every move, and no one can convince him otherwise. You want him to seek professional help, but he is reluctant to do so.
Mental illness can create tremendous stress for a family. Because the illness is so misunderstood, there is the problem of the stigma attached to it.
You might be ashamed or embarrassed, either by your own mental illness or that of a close family member or friend. You may feel as if you are all alone, that no one else could possibly understand what you are going through.
Mental illness routinely creates financial stress for families. Sometimes, overspending is a sign of manic-depressive disorder. A depressed person might invest too much of the family income on a collection of guns or hunting knives. Disputes over finances can create great tensions for families, making it difficult for them to cope.
In addition, mental illness creates tensions within interpersonal relationships. You might be angry with a partner's mood swings not understanding that it is a situation beyond his or her control.
You may be frustrated with a brother who doesn't seem able to hold down a job. You may simply not understand a sister whose promiscuous lifestyle you consider to be dangerous.
The important thing to realize is that, while the stress of mental illness can seem unbearable at times, it is entirely manageable.
If you are the individual suffering from mental illness, make an appointment to see a reputable therapist. He or she can help you sort out your problems and can recommend a psychiatrist who can find the medication that is right for you.
Part of the stress of mental illness can be the difficulty involved in finding a medication that works. You may find the side-effects of a particular drug difficult to deal with at first.
Psychiatrists say it is best if you follow the doctor's recommendation and try to manage the side-effects as best you can. Going off your medication can have disastrous consequences and can lead to a great deal more stress.
At times, you might find that your mental illness requires you to go into the hospital for a time. Such hospitalizations can increase your stress level. However, if you think of the hospital stays as just steps on the road to recovery, you will be able to handle the stress much more effectively.
Coping with another's mental illness can be even more stressful. Mental illness can be quite unpredictable, so it can drain your emotional reserves. It can be highly difficult dealing with a situation that changes so abruptly from one minute to the next.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to join a support group for family members of the mentally ill. This can be tremendously cathartic. You will be able to talk to other people who are going through the same things that you are going through.
You can draw comfort and strength from this network of individuals. Some members of your support group may even allow you to call them at home to discuss your problems further. There is no substitute for a listening ear, especially in the rough times.
You may also want to consider family counseling. In this way, the entire family can be involved in a loved one's recovery from mental illness.
You'll be able to learn healthy coping strategies for dealing with another's illness, and you will be able to communicate in an open, supportive atmosphere.
There is little doubt that mental illness can lead to life-long stress. However, with a little bit of effort, you can learn to manage this stress effectively. And you will find that you and your family are better off as a result.
Both Scott Barker & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.