What causes mental illnesses and how does it affect those with it? An estimated 26% of Americans ages 18 and older suffer. Many people suffer from more than one mental illness. These disorders affect your mood, thinking and behavior. People who have these illnesses or disorders are caused from drugs, alcohol, family conflicts such as neglect or abuse, relationship difficulties, etc. Some people with an illness think they’re bad people or different per say but this is truly something that affects people for the worst and it’s not their fault. Mental disorders are very broad range of moods and actions that people deal with, so when someone talks about others disorder, you should be specific in the way you tell someone because someone can be easily mistaken as ‘crazy’.
The causes of mental illness is a very long list. Over time, researchers have found that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental causes. Family is a big cause to some people’s reasons to have anxiety or depression, not only from the start like genetics but can be caused by growing up. Growing up, teens feel as if they have to handle all things to themselves. Everyday challenges come up upon all of us at one point and we want to handle them but as teens, we don’t know how to react to them. School difficulties come upon us and we struggle every day that our parents don't even know nor think about for us.
Parents are said to be a reason that teens suffer with things but it is such an underrated opinion that no one really pays attention to it nor acts on it. More than 35 percent of teens have blamed their problems on their parents or family history that makes them feel that way. Also, families that fight and go through difficulties tend to be affected the most, more than any other. Studies have shown that parents also mentally abuse their kids and they don’t even know it. More than half of teens occupy themselves with bad behaviors like choosing drugs, bad activities and trying to get attention but the wrong type of attention.
A mental disorder, also called a mental illness or psychiatric disorder is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitting, or occur as a single episode. Many disorders have been described with signs and symptoms that are vary widely between specific disorders. Such disorders may be diagnosed by a mental health professional. The causes of mental disorders are often unclear. Theories may incorporate findings from a range of fields. Mental disorders are usually defined by a combination of how a person behaves, feels, perceives, or thinks. This may be associated with particular regions or functions of the brain, often in a social context. A mental disorder is one aspect of mental health. Cultural and religious beliefs, as well as social norms, should be taken into account when making a diagnosis.
Services are based in psychiatric hospitals or in the community, and assessments are carried out by mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinic social workers, using various methods such as psychometric tests but often relying on observation and questioning. Treatments are provided by various mental health professionals. Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are two major treatment options. Other treatments include lifestyle changes, social interventions, peer support, and self-help. In a minority of cases there might be involuntary detention or while ‘illness’ is common. It has been noted that the term ‘mental’ is not necessarily meant to imply separateness from brain or body. According to DSM-IV, a mental disorder is a psychological syndrome or pattern which is associated with distress, disability, increased risk of death, or causes a significant loss of autonomy, however it excludes normal responses such as grief from loss of a loved one, and also excludes deviant behavior for political, religious, or societal reasons not arising from a dysfunctional in the individual.
There are many different categories of mental disorder, and many different facets of human behavior and personality that can become disordered such as anxiety disorder, mood disorder, psychotic disorder, personality disorder, eating disorder, sleeping disorders and so on. Various new types of mental disorder diagnosis are occasionally proposed. Among those controversially considered by the official committees of the diagnostic manuals include self-defeating personality disorder, passive-aggressive disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The onset of psychiatric disorders usually occurs from childhood to early adulthood. The likely course and outcome of mental disorders varies and is dependent on numerous factors related to the disorder itself, the individual as a whole, and the social environment. Some disorders may last a brief period of time, while others may be long term in nature.
All disorders can have a varied course. Long-term international studies of schizophrenia have found that over half of individuals recover in terms of symptoms, and around a fifth to a third in terms of symptoms and functioning, with many requiring no medication. While some have serious difficulties and support needs for years, ‘late’ recovery is still plausible. The World Health Organization concluded that the long-term studies findings converged with others in relieving patients, careers and clinicians of the chronicity paradigm which dominated thinking throughout much of the 20th century. Some disorders may be very limited in their functional effects, while others may involve substantial disability and support needs. The degree or disability may vary over time and across different life domains. Furthermore, continued disability has been linked to institutionalization, discrimination and social exclusion as well as to the inherent effects of disorders. Alternatively, functioning may be affected by the stress of having to hide a condition in work or school, etc., by adverse effects of medications or other substance, or by mismatches between illness-related variations and demands for regulations.
Mental illness is not something brought often, though it is a medical issue that is very serious just as any medical issue such as diabetes or heart disease. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Thought those who have it may not feel it is okay to talk about or may feel uncomfortable talking about it. We must reassure them that it is okay and that they are not alone. As people we are continually expanding our understanding of how the human brain works, and treatments are available to help successfully manage mental health conditions.