MENTAL DISORDERS

What is a Mental Disorder?

Mental disorders, also called mental illness, pertain to a wide range of mental health disruptions that impact your mood, thinking, and behavior. Examples of mental illnesses

ss include anxiety disorders, depression, Bipolar affective disorder, and eating disorders. An unduly broad definition would illustrate mental disorder as simply being the absence of mental health or anyone can say, a condition of mental capability, balance, and stability in which the individual can successfully work and function and learn how to cope with the conflicts and meetings with stresses in life.
Many people have mental health concerns from time to time due to several reasons, it’s too common, But a mental health concern becomes a mental disorder when these signs lasted for a long and symptoms cause periodic stress and influence your capacity to function.
A mental disorder can make you unhappy and can cause problems in your daily life, such as at college or work or job, or in relationships. In large cases, symptoms can be overseen with a combination of medications and talk therapy called psychotherapy.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of mental disorders can vary, depending on the mental illness, condition, reason for occurrences, and other factors. Mental disorders symptoms can affect feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
Although symptoms vary with disorders some common symptoms are:
Feeling sad or down, chaotic thinking or Having difficulty in concentration, Feeling restless, Being easily fatigued, Being irritable, having Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of sorrow, frequent mood changes of highs and lows, Withdrawal from friends or family and activities, serious tiredness, low energy all the time, lack of proper sleeping, separation from reality, paranoia, or hallucinations, Inability to cope with daily problems or stress, problem understanding and relating to situations and people, Problems with alcohol or drug use, prominent changes in eating habits, Sex drive changes, unnecessary anger, hostility, or violence, Suicidal thinking.
Sometimes symptoms of a mental health disorder appear as physical problems, such as stomach pain, back pain, headaches, or other unexplained aches and pains.

When to need a health expert?

If anyone has any indications of mental disorders, contact your primary care provider or a mental health professional. Remember most mental disorders don’t improve on their own, and if left untreated, mental disorders may get worse over time and cause life threads problems.
If you have suicidal thoughts
Suicidal thoughts are common with some mental disorders. If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, get help right away:
Contact a suicide hotline. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat. Services are free of cost and also kept secret.
Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately or Call your mental health expert.
pursue help from your primary care provider.
Reach out to a close friend or family or loved one whoever is available.
Suicidal thinking doesn’t get better on its own therefore get help immediately.

CAUSES OF MENTAL DISORDERS

There are several reasons,
A traumatic brain injury
Your genes and family history
Your life happens, such as stress or a history of abuse or violence, especially if they occur in childhood
Biological components such as chemical imbalances in the brain
A mother’s exposure to viruses or toxic chemicals while pregnant
Use of alcohol or active drugs
Having a serious medical condition
Having feeling lonely or isolated or fear of losing someone.

TYPES OF MENTAL DISORDERS

There are many different types of mental disorders. Some common ones include:

Anxiety disorders

Anxiety is the reaction of your body to stress. Sometimes anxiety is a normal part of life. Many people feel fearful and nervous about things such as health, jobs, or other problems. If anxiety is temporary, worry or fear it’s okay but if anxiety does not go away, and can get terrible over time, last for at least 6 months, and are hindering your life, you may have an anxiety disorder. then time for concern.
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health disorders that includes:
generalized anxiety disorders
social phobias
specific phobias (for example, agoraphobia and claustrophobia)
panic disorders

Bipolar affective disorder

The bipolar affective disorder is a type of mood disorder, formerly relegated to as ‘manic depression’. A person with bipolar disorder experiences episodes of mania (obsession) and depression. The person may or may not experience psychotic symptoms. The precise cause of the bipolar affective disorder is unknown, but a genetic tendency has been accepted. Surrounding stress can also trigger episodes of these mental disorders.

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder defined by a lowering of mood, loss of interest and enjoyment, and lesser energy. It is not just feeling sad. There are different types and symptoms of depression. There are varying levels of severity and symptoms related to depression. Symptoms of depression can lead to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts.

Dissociation and dissociative disorders

Dissociation is a mental function where a person partially or completely disconnects from their thoughts, emotions, memories, or sense of identity. Dissociative disorders contain dissociative amnesia, depersonalization disorder, and dissociative identity disorder.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders comprise anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and other binge eating disorders. Eating disorders can affect people of all ages and genders and can have serious psychological and physical aftermath.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder. Obsessions are frequent thoughts, impressions, or stimuli that are interfering and undesirable. Compulsions are time-consuming and distressing repetitive observances.

Paranoia

Paranoia is the unreasonable and continuance feeling that people are ‘out to get you’. Paranoia may be a symptom of conditions including paranoid personality disorder, delusional (paranoid) disorder, and schizophrenia.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop as a response to people who have experienced a traumatic event in their life for example loss of someone or childhood abuse, serious accident, physical or sexual assault, war-related incidents or torture, or natural disasters such as earthquake or floods.

Psychosis

People affected by psychosis can experience delusions, hallucinations, and confused thinking. Psychosis can occur in several mental disorders, including drug-induced psychosis, schizophrenia, and mood disorders. Medication and psychological backing can reduce, or even eradicate psychotic symptoms.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complex mental or psychological disorder characterized by turmoil in thought and emotions and a misrepresented perception of reality. Symptoms of schizophrenia vary broadly but may include hallucinations, illusion, thought disorder, social withdrawal, lack of motivation, and impaired thinking and memory. People with schizophrenia have a high risk of suicide. Schizophrenia is not a split personality.

Diagnosis

To determine a diagnosis and check for related complications, you may have:
A physical exam. Your health care provider will try to rule out physical problems that could cause your mental disorders symptoms.
Lab tests. These may involve, for example, a check of your thyroid function or a screening for alcohol and drugs.
A psychological evaluation. A mental health professional talks to you about your symptoms, thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns and also maintain a diary.

Treatments for mental disorders may include:

Medications

Antidepressants. Antidepressants are used to treat depression, anxiety, and sometimes for other medical conditions. They can help cure symptoms such as sorrow, desperation, low energy, difficulty concentrating, and lack of coordination in activities. Antidepressants are not addictive and do not cause dependency. Some most common medicines are Vilazodone(viibryd), Citalodone(Celexa), Sertraline(Zoloft), Fluoxetine(Prozac)
Anti-anxiety medications. These drugs are used to treat anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder(GAD) or panic disorder. They may also help lessen madness and sleeping problems (insomnia). Long-term anti-anxiety drugs generally are antidepressants that also work for anxiety. Fast-acting anti-anxiety drugs help with short-term relief, but they also have likely to cause dependency, so standardly they’d be used short-term. most prescribed medicine are Xanax(alprazolam), Rivotril/klonopin(clonazepam), Valium(diazepam), Ativan(lorazepam) work quickly.
Mood-stabilizing medications. Mood stabilizers are most commonly used to treat bipolar disorders, which involve alternating episodes of mania and depression. Sometimes mood stabilizers are used with antidepressants to treat depression. Mood-Stabilizing Medicines are Aripiprazole(Abilify), Asenapine(safaris), Cariprazine(vraylar), Olanzapine(Zprexa).
Antipsychotic medications. Antipsychotic drugs are generally used to treat psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. Antipsychotic medications may also be used to treat bipolar disorders or used with antidepressants to treat depression.

Psychotherapy

Discussing with a mental health professional can help you work through the challenges of mental disorders and manage their symptoms. Psychotherapy can be in a one-to-one setting with a healthcare provider or a group setting. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a pattern of psychotherapy. It concentrates on helping you differentiate negative behaviors and thought patterns.

Alternative therapies

Some mental disorders, such as depression, may enhance with alternative therapies. Examples include herbal remedies, massage, yoga, and meditation. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any herbal remedies or supplements. They may impact other medications.

Brain stimulation therapies

Not all mental disorders improve with medication. If that’s the case, your healthcare provider may suggest brain stimulation therapies. These treatments change the way nerves and other cells in your brain process chemicals and respond to stimuli. Examples include electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Your treatment team
Your treatment team may include your: Family or primary care health expert, or Physician Assistant, A psychiatrist is a medical health care provider who diagnoses and treats mental disorders, Psychotherapist, such as a psychologist or a licensed counselor, Pharmacist, a Social worker, and Family members.

Mental disorders have become a more prominent subject of attention for various reasons. They have always been common, but, with the obliterated or successful treatment of many of the serious physical illnesses that were previously grief humans, mental disorders have become a more apparent cause of suffering and reason for a higher proportion of those impaired by the disease.