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What is Mental Illness?
Written by Samuel Blue   
Mental illness is a term that actually encompasses over 200 different mental conditions that adversely influence your quality of life.  If you are diagnosed with mental illness, you may have trouble sustaining personal relationships, keeping a job, and interacting appropriately in social situations.  You may even feel that your behavior is completely normal, yet not understand why the rest of society is so off balance.

Quite Common

In truth, mental illness is quite common. Depression is a form of mental illness.  But, it is more than just being sad because someone died, you lost your job, or you have been sick.  The kind of depression that qualifies as mental illness is the type that lasts for an extended and unreasonable amount of time; or, it affects your ability to function in your daily life.

Schizophrenia is also another common mental disorder.  While there may be variations to the illness, the definition by Mayo Clinic spells it out in fairly clear terms:

 “Schizophrenia is a group of serious brain disorders in which reality is interpreted abnormally. Schizophrenia results in hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking and behavior. People with schizophrenia withdraw from the people and activities in the world around them, retreating into an inner world marked by psychosis”.

People with this particular disorder often have trouble taking responsibility for their own actions.  With their distorted sense of reality, it is not uncommon to attribute their own character flaws to others within their world.  Without treatment, it can be very difficult to live with an individual who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, because they cannot see a problem and do not feel they need treatment for a mental disorder.

The Symptoms

The signs of a mental disorder vary, according to the type of mental illness.  But, if you or a loved one has been fighting this problem, the symptoms can be both emotionally and physically manifested.  The list of symptoms is long, but it may include one or more of those mentioned, and some that are not.  Emotionally, you or someone you love may suffer from:
  • A deep sadness
  • Hallucinations
  • Confusion
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Withdrawal
  • Substance abuse
  • And more
Unfortunately, mental illness can also be attributed to physical problems as well.  For example, you may have:
  • Fatigue
  • Unexplained weight changes
  • Headaches
  • Chest Pains
  • Rapid heart rate
  • And more
In and of themselves, each symptom of a mental disorder can be attributed to 101 other sources.  But, when combined, a doctor is likely to suspect that you or someone you love has been fighting mental illness. As a rule of thumb, a diagnosis is reached when the symptoms have adversely affected quality of life.

Left Untreated

If you or a loved one might be suffering a mental disorder, getting treatment as soon as possible is essential.  Mental illness is not like having the common cold.  It will not go away on its own.  Professional care is necessary.

Failure to get treatment for mental illness can often lead to suicidal thoughts.  So, you need to seek help, before those ideas turn into actions.  If you are having any thoughts of harming yourself, contact a friend, a family member, your minister, a crisis hotline, or the local emergency room.  Most mental illness can be successfully treated, so it is possible to lead a normal life of good quality.

How?

You or someone you love has been diagnosed with mental illness.  You are probably full of questions.  How could this happen to me?  Why me and not someone else?  Although the cause of mental disorder is not definitively determined, some factors seem to contribute to mental illness.  First, a chemical imbalance in the brain may be responsible for a sojourn away from normal healthy behavior.  Oftentimes, medication can restore that balance, and help patients lead normal, healthy lives.

Second, heredity may also be a factor.  If you have a close relative with a mental disorder, your are more likely to carry the same gene that may be the cause.  Third, your environment can also be a contributing factor for mental disability.  If you live in an unhealthy or unsafe situation, it can lead to mental problems.

In short, mental illness is quite prevalent in society.  If you or someone you love has been diagnosed, you are not alone. You might be surprised how many people lead normal productive lives, while being treated for a mental disorder.  No shame is involved with asking for help; the shame comes when an individual fails to seek treatment and continues to live a sad and disjointed life.  Having a mental illness is not a crime.  But, it will be crime, if you do not find the help you need to live a decent and happy life.
 
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