Download Mental illness and disorders

Mental illness and disorders
• Almost everyone struggles with feelings of anxiety, sadness, and the
occasional irrational fear. Sometimes, however, mental and emotional
problems are so severe that people are unable to function in daily life.
This lesson describes some of the more serious types of mental
health conditions people experience.
Defining mental illnesses and disorders.
• A mental illness is a medical condition that is characterized by a
mental or emotional problem so severe that it interferes with daily
functioning. For example, a fear of being in public places could lead a
person to avoid going to school, work, or even to visit with family and
friends.
• The terms mental illness and mental disorder are often used
interchangeably because they both refer to serious mental health
conditions involving thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Anxiety and
depression are two of the most common types of mental health.
Anxiety
• Almost everyone experiences anxiety in some situations. Common signs and symptoms of anxiety may
include an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweaty palms, and an upset stomach.
• People who experience extreme anxiety in some situations have an anxiety disorder. These people have
extreme and unrealistic worries about daily life events, experiences, or objects.
• Panic disorder- people with panic disorder experience panic attacks, or episodes of intense fear that
something bad is going to happen. Panic attacks are accompanied by severe physical symptoms, such as
heart palpitations and nausea.
• Generalized anxiety disorder- patterns of constant worrying about many different activities and events, even
though these worries are not based in reality.
• Phobias-people with phobias have extreme anxiety caused by specific objects or situations. People with
severe phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, have a strong fear of being judged by other people or
feeling embarrassed.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD)- people with OCD have persistent and obsessive thoughts or feelings
that they manage by engaging in ritualized behavior.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder- people who live through a terrifying event involving physical harm or the
threat of harm, such as a war or a natural disaster, may develop PTSD. People with this disorder express
extreme stress or fright, even when they aren’t in danger. They may also experience recurring thoughts
about the event.
Depression
• Everyone experiences feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, and inability to care about anything. People may
feel depressed after experiencing a major life event, such as the death of a loved one. For most people,
these feelings of loss and sadness improve and go away over time. For other people however, these feelings
are very intense and last for two weeks or more. People who experience these ongoing negative feelings
have major depression, or clinical depression, which is a serious mental disorder. People with major
depression also experience changes in their patterns of thinking and behavior.
• Some of the following symptoms are characteristics of people with major depression:
• A decreased interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Extreme tiredness and loss of energy
• Difficulty sleeping
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability, anger, and hostility
• Recurrent thoughts of death
• Untreated depression can have serious consequences. People who have major depression are more likely to
engage in behaviors that are harmful to their health. People who are depressed are also at greater risk of
developing various health problems.
Other types of mental disorders:
• Bipolar disorder- people who have this disease experience periods of intense depression that alternate with periods of manic, or
mentally and physically hyperactive, moods. During the periods of depression, any of the symptoms of major depression may
occur. Symptoms of the manic mood may include poor judgement, little need sleep, and hyperactive behavior. Another symptom is
a lack of self-control, which may include binge drinking, binge eating, drug use, sexual behavior, or out-of-control spending.
• Schizophrenia- people with this order typically experience symptoms such as irregular thoughts, delusions of false beliefs, and
hallucinations. People diagnosed with this disease may believe that people are threatening or plotting against them. They may also
show inappropriate emotional reactions, such as laughing when they hear someone has died.
• Personality disorders- these people show consistent patterns of inappropriate behavior. A common personality disorder is
antisocial personality disorder. People with this disorder show a disregard for social rules, tendency for impulsive behavior, and
indifference to other people’s rights and feelings. People who have borderline personality disorder show instability in their own
self-concept and interpersonal relationships. They may get very angry at someone for cancelling plans because they fear
abandonment. They may also show extreme shifts in their attitudes about people, such as idealizing a dating partner and then
believing that person doesn’t truly care about them.
• ADD/ADHD- attention deficit order and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are the most commonly diagnosed mental
disorders in children and adolescents. People with ADD typically have trouble paying attention, whereas those with ADHD also
tend to act impulsively and behave hyperactively. These disorders often occur at different degrees of severity. People with these
disorders may show many different types of symptoms, like having difficulty sitting still or focusing, becoming bored easily, having
trouble staying on task and not following instructions, talking nonstop, no patience, and blurting out inappropriate comments
without awareness of the impact of this behavior on others.
addictions
• Sometimes people are addicted to a particular substance, such as
alcohol, nicotine, or drugs. People can also be addicted to a behavior,
such as gambling or using social media. Alcohol and drug addiction
also increases the risk of developing certain types of mental
disorders, particularly depression, anxiety, and paranoia.
Self-injury
• Self injury occurs when people intentionally harm themselves. Self
mutilation, or cutting, is the most common form of injury, in which a
person makes small cuts on his or her body. Other forms of self-injury
may include burning, drinking harmful products such as bleach, or
punching. Although self-injury is not technically a mental disorder,
this behavior is addictive. Self-injury is also linked with some mental
disorders, including depression and borderline personality disorder.
Self-injury typically occurs because people are unable to effectively
manage or control their emotions.
What causes mental illness?
Biological factors
• Biological factors influence a person’s physical makeup. These factors
include the person’s genes, injuries, and even events that occurred
before he or she was born.
Genetics
• The genes people inherit from their biological parents can determine their risk for
developing mental illnesses and disorders. People who have a family member with
depression or schizophrenia are at a greater risk of having these disorders themselves.
This suggests that people with certain genes are more likely than others to develop a
particular mental illness or disorder. These people have a genetic predisposition or
vulnerability, to that illness.
• Genes may influence the levels of particular chemicals in the brain. People with certain
mental disorders have abnormal levels of these chemicals. In some cases, the levels of
particular chemicals are too low. People with major depression may have lower levels in
chemical serotonin in their brain. Serotonin helps regulate mood. In other cases, the
level of a chemical may be too high. People with schizophrenia have higher-than-normal
levels of another chemical, dopamine in their brains.
• Having a genetic predisposition to developing a particular mental illness does not mean
that a person will develop that illness. Most experts believe that a person’s life situation
or circumstances play a major role in whether the illness actually develops.
Brain injury
• People who experience a serious brain injury are at a great risk of
developing some mental illnesses and disorders. Traumatic brain injury
occurs when a severe blow or jolt to the head damages the brain. Contact
sports injuries and motor vehicle accidents are common causes of TBI’s and
concussions. Concussions result in disorientation, confusion, nausea, and
weakness, and may cause memory loss or unconsciousness. Although
usually temporary, concussions can lead to serious complications and
should be treated by a doctor.
• Brain injuries may cause temporary or permanent changes to brain
function. Irreversible brain changes can result in depression, anxiety,
personality changes, and aggression. People with brain injuries are also at
greater risk of developing a substance abuse problem. In these situations,
alcohol and drugs may be used in an attempt to regulate negative mood or
pain.
Environmental factors
• Environmental factors are events and stressors that occur in a
person’s life and may contribute to the development of a mental
disorder. Some experts believe that traumatic life events and stressors
can trigger the development of a mental disorder In people who are
genetically vulnerable to it. Traumatic life experiences that can trigger
a mental disorder include: the death of a loved one, divorce,
significant family conflict, financial pressures, moving or changing jobs
or schools, abuse or neglect, and substance abuse.
• Environmental Recovery from traumatic experiences may take a few
weeks or months but the effects may also last longer.
Psychological factors
• These factors include feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, anxiety,
and anger. People who have unhealthy patterns of thinking, or
cognitive distortions, about the world around them are also at a
greater risk of developing a mental disorder. Feelings of loneliness
and difficulties relating to other people are often common among
these individuals. These people may believe the negative feelings
they experience will never go away.
• in some cases, negative feelings are caused by biology, such as the
levels of particular chemicals In a person’s body or how his or her
brain functions. Traumatic life experiences can also lead to these
feelings and thought patterns. Fortunately, people can learn to
correct these distortions, leading to improved mental health.
• When people think about committing suicide, they feel like their lives
are never going to get better- but they are wrong. Eventually, many of
these people recover and later realize that illness contributed to their
feelings of hopelessness and despair. This is why it is important for
people who are thinking about suicide to get help.
Family factors
• People from types of family backgrounds may be at greater risk of
attempting suicide, people whose biologics parents experience
depression may be at a greater risk of developing depression
themselves, so they may also be at greater risk of committing suicide.
• Difficult relationships among family members may also increase the
risk for suicide attempts. Crises such as financial hardships, issues of
abuse or neglect, or substance abuse and addiction problems, may
further strain family relationships and increase risk factors.
Environmental factors
• Hearing about the suicide of someone else, even a stranger, may
increase the risk for certain people to attempt suicide themselves.
This is called suicide contagion. Group experiences of suicides among
members of a community in a short period of time Is called a suicide
cluster.
The impact of suicide on others
• Survivors, or people who loose a loved one to suicide, often feel
anger, guilt, and sadness. Survivors may suffer with guilt because they
were unable to prevent the death. They may feel rejected and
abandoned by the victim. Also, because suicide deaths are sudden,
survivors are unable to prepare themselves for this loss.
• Survivors may feel embarrassed or shamed by the suicide. In addition,
many people are uncomfortable with the topic of suicide, and may
blame the victim instead of supporting the survivors. Unfortunately,
this means survivors may not get the support they need following
their loss.
Preventing suicides
• Most people who make a suicide attempt show some warning signs about their intentions. They
often tell someone about their plans beforehand or hint at such plans in other ways. Some people
may say they feel like they have no reason to live, or they may seem obsessed with death. It is
very important to take any mention of suicide seriously, even if the person seems to be joking.
• Warning signs that can indicate a person is at risk of committing suicide include changes in eating
and sleeping habits and withdrawal from family, friends, and regular activities. Disregard for
personal appearance, changes in personality, giving away valued possessions, and loss of interest
in activities previously enjoyed are also signs.
• If you ever find yourself thinking about hurting yourself, or if you know someone who may be
thinking about suicide, there are steps you can take to get help. First, always take thoughts or
mention of suicide very seriously. Talk to an adult you trust immediately. This perso can put you in
touch with a mental health professional who can help.
• If a person confides in you about having suicidal thoughts, you cannot keep this secret. Talk to
someone who can help immediately, or call 911 or a suicide hotline number to reached a trained
counselor. If you are getting help for someone, it does not mean you are breaking confidentiality.
Barriers to seeking help
• Unfortunately, people with mental health concerns sometimes do not
get the help they need. These people may assume their negative
feelings will go away on their own. Most mental illnesses and
disorders, however, do not improve without treatment. Untreated
mental illnesses and disorders may even get worse and lead to larger
problems. These people may also be dealing with external barriers to
getting help for their condition.
Social stigma
• Negative and often unfair beliefs about mental illnesses and disorders
can cause people with these conditions to not seek help. Social
stigma may also cause people to deny they have a problem, feel
shame and embarrassment about their disorder, and fear that they
will lose an opportunity, job, scholarship, or a leadership positionbecause of their condition.
• People who experience a mental illness or disorder may mistakenly
believe that they should be able to fix their illness or disorder on their
own. These people need to realize that their condition requires a
doctor’s treatment just like a physical problem.
Treatments for mental health concerns
• Researchers are trying to find ways of identifying people who are
vulnerable to mental illnesses and disorders. As researchers better
understand how the human brain works, they are also creating new
treatments so people with mental illnesses and disorders can live
healthy and productive lives.
Individual therapy
• A therapist is a professional who is trained to diagnose and treat people
with mental illnesses and disorders. Therapist include professionals such as
psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors.
• The information people share with therapists is completely confidential in
most cases. If a therapist believes their patient may hurt his or herself, or
someone else, the therapist may share that information with a parent or
guardian. Therapists can help people understand their feelings and
behaviors in an accepting and non-judgmental way. Therapists may also
have specific suggestions for how people can understand their thought
process and help themselves feel better. Therapists can help people learn
to cope with their problems in healthy, positive ways.
Family therapy
• Family therapy, in which all members meet together with a therapist,
helps families build positive, functional relationships and strengthen
interactions. Family therapy can also help members of family support
one member with a mental illness or disorder through treatment and
recovery.
Support groups
• In support groups, a therapist meets with a group of people with a
common problem. Strategies for managing this problem are shared
and with all group members at the same time. People can feel a great
deal of support from the group because members truly understand
the problems they are facing. Members of support groups also gain
information about what strategies were helpful for others.
medication
• Medications, which are prescribed by doctors– usually psychiatrists– often work by changing a
person’s biology. People who have the following mental illnesses or disorders are often treated
through the use of medications in conjunction with therapy.
• Depression: antidepressants are used to make certain chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin,
more available, which can reduce of eliminate symptoms.
• ADHD: stimulants are used to increase the levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain,
which helps improve memory and attention span.
• Anxiety disorders: medications used to treat people with anxiety disorders often slow down the
central nervous system, which makes people feel calmer and more relaxed.
• Schizophrenia: antipsychotics can be used to manage the symptoms pf schizophrenia, which may
include hallucinations.
• Bipolar disorders: lithium Is commonly used to help control the extreme highs and lows
experienced by people with bipolar disorder.
• substance abuse: in addition to therapy, treatment for addictions and substance abuse may
include taking certain medications long enough to help people manage withdrawal symptoms.
Inpatient treatment
In some cases, a person’s mental illness or disorder causes such serious
problems that he or she needs care in an inpatient clinic or hospital.
This type of treatment is used only when people are at serious risk of
harming themselves or others. People who are very depressed and
suicidal may need to be hospitalized for a period of time to make sure
they do not attempt suicide. In the hospital, people receive aroundthe-clock supervision, medication. And therapy.
Helping a loved one
• If you are concerned that someone you care about has a mental illness or disorder, share your
concerns with that person in an open and honest way. Simply saying that you are worried and
would like to help lets that person know you are available. You could also accompany your loved
one to talk to the professional.
• Remember that sometimes people just need more time before they are ready to get the help
they need. Take immediate action, however, if you suspect someone in contemplating suicide, or
has taken steps toward suicide. Call 911 or take the person to the hospital right away.