Different Types of Mental Health Issues and Illnesses
Mental health is a topic that more and more people are beginning to talk about. As the term grows in popularity and people begin to remove the stigma surrounding different mental health issues or illnesses, more and more information begins to emerge.
While this can be a great thing, it can also create clouds of confusion due to so much information to sort through. At Camelback Integrated Health and Wellness, we believe in simplifying the information to help everyone understand mental health issues and illnesses more clearly.
Understanding Mental Health
Mental health is defined as emotional, physical, and social well-being. Poor mental health can look a lot of different ways, but achieving good mental health can feel incredible.
Many people live with mental health issues that they are unaware of simply because they don’t know much about the different mental health issues and how they manifest. When you understand your symptoms and begin working with a professional, you can take control of your mental health.
Contributing Factors
Different mental health issues or mental illnesses can be influenced by a number of variables:
- Genetics
- Environment
- Lifestyle
Each of these things can lead to exacerbated symptoms or an onset of mental health disorders. Considering each factor can help you find some underlying issues you might be facing.
The Breakdown of Mental Illnesses and Disorders
Mood Disorders
Two of the most commonly talked about mental health disorders are depression and bipolar disorder. Both of these are classified as mood disorders and can have some overlapping symptoms. Symptoms of mood disorders often include:
- Sadness, anxiousness, hopelessness, helplessness, or excessive guilt
- Aggression and hostility
- Suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors
- Trouble sleeping or concentrating
- Changes in appetite
Many mood disorders are inheritable, and for those without a family history, it can be brought on by your environment. Considering your family’s mental health history or big life changes can be helpful in determining if you are experiencing changes in your own mental health.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxious feelings are common amongst many people, however, anxiety disorders tend to be more severe than the occasional anxious feeling. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and different phobias are classified under the anxiety disorder category. Similar to mood disorders, there will be some overlap in symptoms. Common symptoms include:
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Feeling a sense of danger or panic
- Dread
While we all experience some of these feelings from time to time, an anxiety disorder manifests more often and usually begins to impact daily life for those that it affects. Common coping mechanisms include breathing exercises, journaling, and working with a counselor or therapist.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are also a fairly common mental health issue. When it comes to different personality disorders, the commonality amongst them all is that it is hard for the individual to understand or interpret emotions other than their own, they often act impulsively, and they struggle to maintain close relationships with others. The most widely-known personality disorders are Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD), narcissistic personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Symptoms often include:
- Unpredictable behaviors
- Lack of empathy
- Instability in relationships
- Mood swings and emotional outbursts
- Lack of trust in others
- Lack of ability to be flexible in social situations
Depending on the specific personality disorder, there are medication options. Talk therapy has also proven to be helpful for some.
Psychotic Disorders
While psychotic disorder can be an umbrella term, the name encompasses the meaning. Psychotic disorders are typically characterized by psychotic symptoms. Commonly known psychotic disorders include schizophrenia, paranoid personality disorder, and postpartum psychosis. Common symptoms include:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Erratic or agitated behavior
- Struggle to display emotion
- Confusing thought patterns
- Lack of interest in others
Psychotic disorders can often be treated with medications that help individuals manage their symptoms.
Eating Disorders
There are several eating disorders that most people have heard of. Anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating are all classified as eating disorders. While each is different from the other, they share some common symptoms, such as:
- Lack of appetite or loss of interest in food
- Stomach pain
- Extreme weight loss
- Digestive problems
- Weaker bones and teeth
Eating disorders are unique because they affect both mental and physical health in a big way. In general, the first step is often talk therapy to help the individual overcome the mental hurdles that keep them from feeling like they are allowed to eat. From there, meeting with a nutritionist can help them restore vital nutrients and achieve better physical health.
Substance Use Disorders
Substance use or abuse disorders are also fairly common. More and more people are evaluating the relationships they have with alcohol and other substances and choosing a life of sobriety because of the negative effects substances can have on our minds and our bodies. Symptoms of substance abuse disorders include:
- Strong urges or lack of control around a substance
- Incapability of cutting back on substances
- Choosing substances over relationships
- Letting substance use affect or interfere with work
- Increased tolerance, therefore needing more of the substance to achieve desired effects
Depending on the substance, getting off of it can be a dangerous path. It is always best to start with talk therapy and seek professional help in order to recover from an addiction.
Risk Factors and Prevention
Each type of mental health disorder comes with its own set of risk factors, however, the most important risk factors incluse the risk of hurting yourself or others around you.
Though you cannot necessarily prevent a mental illness, you can prevent harm coming to yourself or others by seeking help. At the first sign of a mental disorder, seek out an expert who can help with diagnosis and treatment options.
Understanding and being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health issues is key to getting effective treatment as soon as possible. Whether you or someone you know is displaying symptoms, getting in touch with professionals is the most important step of the journey to healing.