Mental disorder

They are often characterized by a combination of strange thoughts, ideas, feelings, behaviors, and relationships with others. Mental illnesses include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, other mental illnesses, dementia, and developmental disorders that include autism.

What are mental disorders? Mental disorders (or mental illnesses) are conditions that affect your thinking, feeling, mood, and behavior. They may be occasional or long-lasting (chronic). They can affect your ability to relate to others and function each day.

What are some types of mental disorders? There are many different types of mental disorders. Some common ones include: Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias, depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders, Eating disorders, Personality disorders, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia.

What causes mental disorders? There is no single cause for mental illness. Several factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as Your genes and family history. Your life experiences, such as stress, especially if they happen in childhood, biological factors such as chemical imbalances in the brain, a traumatic brain injury, a mother's exposure to viruses or toxic chemicals while pregnant, use of alcohol, having a serious medical condition like cancer, having few friends, and feeling lonely or isolated. Mental disorders are not caused by character flaws. They have nothing to do with being lazy or weak.

Who is at risk for mental disorders? Mental disorders are common. More than half of all Americans will be diagnosed with a mental disorder at some time in their life. How are mental disorders diagnosed? The steps to getting a diagnosis include A medical history; a physical exam and possibly lab tests if your provider thinks that other medical conditions could be causing your symptoms. A psychological evaluation. You will answer questions about your thinking, feelings, and behaviors.

What are the treatments for mental disorders? Treatment depends on which mental disorder you have and how serious it is. You and your provider will work on a treatment plan just for you. It usually involves some type of therapy. You may also take medicines. Some people also need social support and education on managing their condition. In some cases, you may need more intensive treatment. You may need to go to a psychiatric hospital. This could be because your mental illness is severe. Or it could be because you are at risk of hurting yourself or someone else. In the hospital, you will get counseling, group discussions, and activities with mental health professionals and other patients.

Diagnosis and Tests: What is a mental health screening? A mental health screening is an exam of your emotional health. It helps find out if you have a mental disorder. Mental disorders are common. They affect more than half of all Americans at some point in their lives. There are many types of mental disorders. Some of the most common disorders include: Depression and mood disorders; these mental disorders are different than normal sadness or grief. They can cause extreme sadness, anger, and/or frustration. Anxiety disorders; anxiety can cause excessive worry or fear in real or imagined situations. Eating disorders; these disorders cause obsessive thoughts and behaviors related to food and body image. Eating disorders may cause people to severely limit the amount of food they eat, excessively overeat (binge), or do a combination of both. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders in children. It can also continue into adulthood. People with ADHD have trouble paying attention and controlling impulsive behavior. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); this disorder can happen after you live through a traumatic life event, such as a war or serious accident. People with PTSD feel stressed and afraid, even long after the danger is over. Addictive disorders; these disorders involve excessive use of alcohol or drugs. People with substance abuse disorders are at risk for overdose and death. Bipolar disorder was formerly called manic depression. People with bipolar disorder have alternating episodes of mania (extreme highs) and depression. Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders; are among the most serious psychiatric disorders. They can cause people to see, hear, and/or believe things that aren't real. The effects of mental disorders range from mild to severe to life-threatening. Fortunately, many people with mental disorders can be successfully treated with medicine and/or talk therapy. Remedies for brain rejuvenation may play a role in the treatment of certain mental disorders. Remedies for brain stimulation include activating or directly blocking the brain with electricity. Electricity can be delivered directly through electrodes implanted in the brain, or indirectly by electrodes placed on the scalp. Electricity can also be triggered by the use of magnets mounted on the head. Although these forms of treatment are commonly used less frequently than medications and psychotherapies, they do promise the treatment of certain mental disorders that do not respond to other therapies. Electroconvulsive therapy is a well-studied brain therapy and has a long history of use. Some of the dynamic therapies discussed here are new, and in some cases, they are still experimental. These include vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), Magnetic seizure therapy (MST), and deep brain stimulation (DBS). The treatment plan may include medication and psychotherapy. Choosing the right treatment program should be based on individual needs and medical conditions and under the care of a physician.

What Is Meditation? Meditation has a long history of use in promoting calm and physical relaxation, improving mental balance, coping with illness, and improving overall health and well-being. A new report based on data from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) found that United States adult meditation in the past 12 months tripled between 2012 and 2017 (from 4.1 percent to 14.2 percent). The meditation use of United States children (aged 4 to 17) also increased significantly (from 0.6 percent in 2012 to 5.4 percent in 2017). There are many types of meditation, but most have four common elements: a quiet place with as few distractions as possible; upright, comfortable posture (sitting, lying down, walking, or other positions); focus attention (specially selected word or set of words, object, or emotional feelings); and an open mind (allowing distractions to come naturally without judgment).

Psychotherapy (sometimes called "talk therapy") is a term of various therapies intended to help a person identify and reverse anxious emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Most psychotherapy is done by a licensed, mental health professional and the patient meets one or more patients in a group setting. You may seek psychiatric treatment for a variety of reasons, including You may be experiencing severe or prolonged stress as a result of work or family situations, loss of a loved one, or relationship or family problems. You may have symptoms that have no physical meaning: changes in sleep or diet, low energy, lack of interest or happiness in activities you once enjoyed, constant irritability, anxiety, or feelings of depression or despair that will not go away. Your healthcare provider may suspect or experience depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or other conditions or symptoms that may affect your life, and recommended psychiatric treatment such as initial treatment or medication adherence. You may want treatment for a family member or child who has been diagnosed with a mental illness and the health care provider recommends treatment for them. A health care provider's check-up can confirm that nothing in your whole life or that of your loved one can explain the symptoms. This step is important because sometimes symptoms such as mood swings or a focus on the problem may be due to medical conditions.

Therapy and Counseling: Professional treatment and counseling can improve your mental health. This treatment can help people who are experiencing emotional or behavioral problems. Also, it can help people with mental health problems. Treatment is sometimes called psychotherapy or talk therapy. Often, treatment is used in conjunction with medication prescribed by a doctor to treat a mental disorder. Treatment will usually improve the results you get from the medication. There are different types of mental health providers. Professionals trained in psychiatry include those representing psychiatry, clinical psychology, mental health counseling, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, and psychotherapy. Payment structures and access to medical records are different. For example, a psychiatrist has a medical degree and is allowed to write instructions. The counselor does not have a doctorate and is not allowed to write a doctor's note. Your doctor may recommend a qualified specialist. Some people do not want to be treated for work or counseling. They feel ashamed of their problems. Some believe that treatment and counseling are for people who are mentally ill or "insane". However, this is not true. Do not let embarrassment or fear hold you back from getting the help you need. Good mental health is part of your whole life and good health.

Samina Zaheer (Health Tips, Health Care)