Types of Mental Illnesses
Everyone has issues coping with emotions or interacting to others on times. However, a person's mental health may be jeopardised if these issues persist for an unusually long time or interfere with typical everyday activities. Millions of individuals suffer from some form of mental illness.
Functional diseases may have a chemical imbalance, while organ ic disorders may have a nonphysical aetiology, such as stress. Although positive experiences and surroundings can aid in the treatment of biological illnesses, negative and destructive experiences and surroundings can result in functional disorders. Mood disorders, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, personality disorders, and dissociative disorders are all examples of functional disorders.
Organic Illnesses
Some of the most prevalent mental ailments are organic mental disorders. Adults are the most commonly affected by delirium and dementia. Other biological issues that might lead to mental illness can appear in childhood.
Delirium [dih LIR ee uhm] is a mental illness characterised by confusion and a lack of consciousness of one's surroundings. Poisoning, a high temperature, or drug or alcohol withdrawal can all cause delirium. It can also be brought on by trauma or fear. People who are delirious have no idea what day it is, where they are, or who they are. Hallucination is another symptom of delirium. A hallucination is when you see, hear, or feel something that doesn't exist. Hallucinating people may see spiders on walls that aren't there. When no one is speaking, they may hear voices.
Dementia (dih MEN shah) is a loss of mental capacity that is severe and permanent. It's more frequent among the elderly. Dementia patients have difficulty recalling things. They forget names and conversations, and they frequently lose their judgement. They may also become introverted and silent. Alzheimer's disease, which is addressed in Chapter 22, is a prevalent kind of dementia.
Some kinds of mental illness manifest themselves as early as childhood. Infantile autism is a relatively rare kind of paediatric mental illness. Infantile autism [AW tiz um] is a disorder in which children do not react normally to people or their surroundings. If such children do respond, their actions are unusual. When an autistic kid is placed in an unfamiliar chair, for example, he or she may scream.
Hyperactivity is a disorder in which a youngster is always on the go and quickly distracted. Because hyperactive children have trouble sitting still, completing activities, and following directions, they frequently struggle in school. Children that are hyperactive have difficulty coping with their surroundings. As a result, they are under a lot of pressure. Stress like this might lead to functioning issues. Early treatment of this ailment relieves the distressing symptoms and may result in rapid recovery.
Mood Disturbances
The majority of people go through a variety of emotions. They may feel pleased, sad, or furious in a single day. A mood disorder is a severe illness in which one person suffers from a single, frequently unpleasant symptom. The entire personality is controlled by one's mood. Doctors currently know a lot about mood disorders and how to treat patients who are suffering from them. Mood problems are frequently caused by a chemical imbalance, which can be addressed with medication. Clinical depression or mania are common symptoms of these diseases.
Clinical depression is a mental illness characterised by persistent feelings of despair and worthlessness. Clinical depression causes people to lose interest in virtually all of their regular activities. They feel excessively terrible over minor issues and have the impression that they are unimportant to anybody. Clinically depressed persons frequently eat little or excessively. They frequently have difficulty sleeping, or they sleep excessively. They may struggle to concentrate and so do badly at school or at work.
A person who has a depressed father, brother, or sister is significantly more likely to acquire clinical depression than someone who does not have this mental disease in their family. However, the personality and surroundings of the individual may be able to overcome this. Suicide is a common idea in those suffering from severe clinical depression. These individuals do not believe they will ever feel better. When persons overuse alcohol or other depressive substances, they are more likely to commit suicide.
Mania is a mood disorder that is the polar opposite of depression. Mania is a delirious, impetuous state of mind. Maniacs rap incessantly and appear to be highly joyful or euphoric. They might feel out of control at times. They may, for example, purchase items that they cannot afford. Despite the fact that manic people appear to be in a good mood, their excess energy might lead to aggressive conduct. Mania often results in physical and emotional fatigue.
Manic-depression disorder is a disease that alternates between mania and clinical depression. Mania is followed by severe depression in some people. These phases come and go in a cyclical pattern. Manic-depressive individuals, for example, may appear normal. They may begin to feel "high" the next week if they stay really active and go out all night. They may become quite sad after a period of strong activity. Their vitality vanishes. They get so depressed that they refuse to leave the house. They may then feel more like themselves, or they may revert to manic behaviour. Their mood swings don't follow any sort of routine.
Disorders of Anxiety
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. When a person's dread lasts for a long time, is severe, prevents them from enjoying pleasure, or interferes with their everyday activities, anxiety becomes a problem. Anxiety disorders are a category of conditions characterised by anxiety as the primary symptom. Anxiety disorders come in a variety of forms. They are the outcome of environmental factors.
Generalized anxiety is a condition of anxiety that has no specific cause. The symptoms of generalised anxiety vary from person to person. Some people shiver or tremble. Others sweat profusely, their pulses pounding, their hands chilly, and their lips dry.
Panic disorder is a fearful outburst that appears to have no apparent reason but is frequently associated with particular events. Panic disorder is similar to anxiety, but it is considerably more severe. Sufferers have chest aches and their hearts race. I'm trembling and dizzy. They are unable to take deep breaths. Everything around them appears to be a sham. They are terrified of losing control or dying. People can develop phobias as a result of their efforts to manage the terrifying sense of panic.
A phobia is an unreasonably persistent dread of a situation or object. When these people are in the presence of whatever they are afraid of, they get anxious. As a result, people strive to avoid what they are afraid of. Claustrophobia is a dread of being trapped in small spaces. Agoraphobia was once defined as a dread of large, open areas. The phrase is now used to refer to a dread of leaving one's home. Panic disorder is a common cause of these phobias. A person who suffers a panic attack while driving a car, for example, may acquire a fear of driving. People with panic disorder may develop agoraphobia in attempt to avoid circumstances that might trigger an episode.
Other phobias are included in Figure 7-4. The presence of unwanted thoughts, emotions, or actions is a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessions are uncontrollable ideas that prevent people from thinking about anything else.
Compulsions are uncontrollable, repetitive actions. Obsessions are almost usually linked to compulsions. People with obsessive compulsive disorder, for example, may be concerned about contracting a terrible disease. They believe they must wash their hands hundreds of times each day. They start worrying again as soon as they finish washing. People with this illness are frequently unable to carry out daily activities because they are preoccupied with thoughts or behaviours they cannot control.
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Phobia |
Fear of: |
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Acrophobia
Aerophobia
Agoraphobia
Anthropophobia
Aquaphobia
Claustrophobia
Gephyrophobia
Mikrophobia
Numerophobia
Nyctophobia
Ochlophobia
Ophidiophobia
Phonophobia
Thanatophobia
Xenophobia
Zoophobia
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heights
flying
leaving home
people
water
closed spaces
bridges
germs
numbers
darkness
crowds
snakes
speaking aloud
death
strangers
animals
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Somatoform disorders
The term somatoform comes from the Greek word soma, which means "in the body." A somatoform disorder is a kind of somatoform disorder. Isoh MAT uh fawrm) is a condition in which bodily symptoms exist yet there is no actual illness. Medical testing indicate no sickness, despite the fact that patients with such diseases feel they are suffering from a real ailment. Somatoform disorders, such as hypochondria, are a kind of somatoform condition.
Hypochondria [hy puh KAHN dree uh] is a strong belief that one is sick when there is no evidence of disease. Hypochondriacs are always concerned about their fictitious illness. Even physicians are unable to persuade them that their tests reveal they are healthy. Hypochondriacs, for example, frequently complain about recurring pains. They are concerned that they are suffering from terrible illnesses. They switch physicians often in attempt to find a cure for their fictitious illness. It might be difficult to persuade hypochondriacs that they have a mental condition.
Hypochondria is not the same as a psychosomatic condition, which is a medical ailment or discomfort induced by stress or emotions. Migraine headaches brought on by stress, or nausea brought on by stage fright, are psychosomatic illnesses, not hypochondria.
Disorders of Personality
Personality disorders are personality characteristics that restrict people from connecting with others in a healthy way. Personality disorders are characterised by the absence of prominent symptoms such as delusion or hallucination. Their habits and conduct, however, prevent them from being joyful. They have a hard time adjusting to life and making friends. Even with expert assistance, it is difficult to change a personality problem once it has developed. Personality problems come in a variety of forms.
Antisocial personality disorder is a personality disorder in which a person shows no regard for other people's rights. They generally have only a few or no sentiments for others. People with this illness frequently feel bitter and deceived, and they believe that society's norms should not apply to them. They usually hide their resentment by seeming confident and honest. They may appear lovely on the outside, but on the inside, they feel deceived and believe they are entitled to everything they can get. To put it another way, they say one thing and then do another. They frequently become criminals as adults.
The paranoid personality disorder (PAR uh noyd) is characterised by irrational distrust and mistrust of others. Individuals suffering with this tenth illness keep their suspicions to themselves. Their relationships may be harmed in severe situations as a result of their distrust. Paranoid people remain distrustful of others even when their suspicions are disproved. Paranoid people, for example, may feel they are being followed and alter their door locks.
A person with compulsive personality disorder is preoccupied with rules or standards all of the time. People with this condition have a hard time altering their habits. They frequently lack a sense of humour and are unable to communicate warm, loving feelings. People with compulsive personality disorder are unable to truly enjoy themselves and can only exhibit grim satisfaction when everything appears to be in order. They frequently demand that people do things their way. They grow enraged when they are unable to manage others. These folks frequently overwork and place a high value on work. They have little time for their families and friends as a result.
Schizoid personality disorder (SKIT soyd) is characterised by a strong desire to isolate oneself from others. People who suffer from this disorder have no warm sentiments for others, but criticism from others may readily harm them. As a result, they withdraw. Schizoid people keep their emotions and ideas hidden. These folks have no motivation to interact with others and are frequently boring and humourless. They are lonely, though, since they do not believe others have anything to give them. People with passive-aggressive personality disorder have a hard time working with others.
Resistance like this isn't out in the open. It is stated in a roundabout way. A passive-aggressive individual, for example, who does not want to help with party planning may pledge to do so and then "forget." People that are passive-aggressive do not overtly deny or express their rage. Instead, they demonstrate their reluctance to be dependable.
Dissociative Disorders
(Dissociative Identity Disorders) Dissociative disorders [dih SOH shee uh tiv] are conditions in which the personality undergoes abrupt alterations. People who suffer from these illnesses frequently lose track of who they are. They have the delusion that they are someone else at times.
They lose touch with themselves and become detached from their regular selves in this way. Dissociative disorders are uncommon and generally occur as a result of traumatic events such as war, accidents, or natural catastrophes. They might also be the result of a lot of stress. People with these illnesses are able to avoid having to deal with very stressful situations. They also assist people in avoiding sensations that they are unable to cope with.
The abrupt inability to recall fundamental personal information is known as amnesia [am NEE zhuh]. Amnesiacs lose track of their names and where they reside. They may not recognise members of their family or acquaintances. A fire that kills all but one member of a family, for example, may cause amnesia in the survivor. They lose touch with themselves and become detached from their regular selves in this way.
Figure 7 - 5 Overworking for long periods of time may be a symptom of a compulsive personality disorder.
Dissociative disorders are uncommon and generally occur as a result of traumatic events such as war, accidents, or natural catastrophes. They might also be the result of a lot of stress. People with these illnesses are able to avoid having to deal with very stressful situations. They also assist people in avoiding sensations that they are unable to cope with.
Amnesia usually only lasts a few days. Multiple personality disorder is a condition in which a single individual shifts between two or more distinct personas on a regular basis. This is an extremely uncommon ailment. The primary personality is typically unaware of the existence of the other personas. It might even be lurking behind them. One young woman, for example, was a kind and pleasant individual. Her second "self" was an obnoxious, rowdy adolescent. Her third "self" was a scared and silent seven-year-old girl. This woman had been mistreated horribly as a youngster.
Multiple personality disorder is a condition that can develop as a result of long-term, severe childhood maltreatment or extreme mental stress. Individuals may create various personalities in order to deal with abuse or trauma. The anguish felt by the primary personality is masked by these additional personas.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia (skit suh FREE nee uh), often known as a retreat from reality, is a severe mental illness. Schizophrenia patients are extremely perplexed. They act in strange ways. They frequently have hallucinations, particularly hearing voices. Schizophrenics may believe they have magical abilities or that others can read their minds. Some schizophrenics isolate themselves from others. Others talk to themselves, wear odd clothing, forget to bathe regularly, or neglect personal health. Schizophrenia often affects more than one member of a family. Between the ages of 15 and 25, the condition generally manifests itself. It may appear and disappear during one's life or, in extreme cases, necessitate lifelong hospitalisation. The reason behind it is unknown.
Review of the Lesson
Dementia and delirium are both biological diseases. Many types of mental disease are classified as functional disorders. People's perspectives on life are influenced by mood disorders. People with anxiety disorders experience extreme dread. Somatoform diseases make otherwise healthy people feel they are sick. Personality problems have an impact on how people interact with others. People with dissociative disorders lose track of who they are. Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that leads individuals to misinterpret reality.
