Mental Illness

What is a Mental Illness or a Mental Disorder?

Know the Types, Symptoms and Treatment of Mental Illnesses

Before we jump on to the study of the Treatment of Mental Illnesses, it is important to know the symptoms, signs and types of Mental Illnesses. So what are they and why is it important to study them. There is no doubt in the fact that stress has become a part and parcel of our daily lives. health conditions are disturbances in a person’s thinking, feeling, or behavior that reflect a problem in mental function. They cause distress or disability in social, work, or family activities. Just as the phrase “physical illness” is used to describe a range of physical health problems, the term “mental illness” encompasses a variety of mental health conditions’ health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.

Mental Illness
Mental Illness

Types of Mental Illness

  • Bipolar and Related Disorders
  • Depressive Disorders
  • Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders
  • Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
  • Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
  • Sexual Dysfunctions
  • Sleep-Wake Disorders
  • Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
  • Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders

Symptoms of Mental Illness

  • Feeling sad or down
  • Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
  • Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
  • Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
  • Withdrawal from friends and activities
  • Significant tiredness, low energy, or problems sleeping
  • Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia, or hallucinations
  • Inability to cope with daily problems or stress
  • Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people
  • Problems with alcohol or drug use
  • Major changes in eating habits
  • Sex drive changes

How to Treat a Mental Illness

The first step in treating any mental illness is seeking professional health. A qualified mental health professional will be able to diagnose your symptoms. They will also provide you with the best way to treat your symptoms.

Often mental illnesses are treated with a combination of prescription drugs and therapy. Your doctor should be able to give you a personalized treatment plan and discuss what you need to do.

Mental health illnesses are episodic, just like a lot of physical illnesses. This means that there will be times when you experience ill health and times when you experience good health.

The important thing to remember is that good mental health isn’t always about feeling happy and confident all of the time. It’s about living with your mental illness and learning how to cope with it.

Also read: Shilpa’s Mental Health Mantra, Understand your body needs