Mental wellness refers to a person’s ability to think clearly, control emotions, and behave appropriately. There can occasionally be a serious impairment in this mental functioning. When patterns or changes in thinking, feeling, or acting disturb a person or impair their capacity to function, a mental disorder may be present. It is typically linked to distress or impairment in significant functional domains. A psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, or another mental health practitioner may identify a mental health condition. A primary care physician might also take part in a diagnostic evaluation or refer patients to a mental health professional. Mental disorders encompass a wide spectrum of conditions that are not only tied to mental health but also to cognitive talents, capacities, and behavioral challenges. The most common mental health disorders are:
Mental Health Care
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
This describes a group of developmental disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), which can pose serious social, communication, and behavioral difficulties from infancy through maturity. The crucial phrase to grasp is “spectrum,” as “ASD” is a broad catch-all term used for a variety of different developmental difficulties, many of which are frequently specific to the individual. Regardless of race, nationality, culture, or economic status, ASD affects people everywhere. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that boys are diagnosed with ASD more frequently than girls. It is characterized by issues with social contact and communication as well as limited or repetitive patterns of conduct.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways. Generally speaking, anxiety is characterized by tense feelings, unsettling thoughts, and actual physiological symptoms like perspiration or an accelerated heart rate. People with anxiety disorders frequently struggle with persistent intrusive thoughts. It can be quite challenging to stop having intrusive thoughts, which are unwelcome, habitual thoughts that become lodged in the mind and create a great deal of distress and nervousness. The types of anxiety disorders are;
- Generalized anxiety disorder involves persistent worry over a range of worries and other anxiety symptoms, frequently without a specific trigger.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by a pattern of unwanted thoughts and worries (obsessions), which cause repetitive behaviors.
- Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of acute fear or panic attacks that cause physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and heart palpitations.
- Social anxiety disorder, which entails overwhelming anxiety in social circumstances.
Bipolar Disorder
Even though bipolar disorder is one of the most prevalent mental illnesses, there are numerous misconceptions about it among the general public. Instead of just “mood swings,” bipolar disorder symptoms include protracted periods of mania and severe depression. Also, the disorder is categorized by periods of either mania or hypomania (less severe mania), during which people may suffer a variety of symptoms, including a decreased need for sleep, extravagant planning, a very high level of energy, a giddy feeling, rushing thoughts, distractibility, and euphoria.
Insomnia
This is a common sleep disorder, and people who suffer from it find it challenging to get to sleep, stay asleep, or feel restless during the night. Numerous factors, such as a chronic illness (including mental disorders), a lack of activity, or a side effect of medicine, could be to blame for the problem. Most of the time, insomnia is self-diagnosable, but it may need medication, which requires a medical diagnosis. Treatment may also be necessary if there is a pre-existing ailment that is causing or interfering with sleep.
Eating Disorders
Significant and ongoing irregularities in eating behaviors are the hallmarks of an eating disorder, which is frequently accompanied by harmful body obsessions. These conditions may have detrimental effects on health. It is categorized as an eating disorder whether it involves undereating or overeating. The two most prevalent instances are bulimia, which occurs when people purposefully vomit food, and anorexia, which occurs when people excessively restrict their calorie intake. It might be difficult for people with eating disorders to have a positive body image and keep on undereating. This frequently has a negative impact on people’s physical and mental health because it can cause malnutrition and other problems.
Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the primary disorder in this class, and it affects millions worldwide. It is a type of mental illness that occurs when a traumatic event from the past—whether witnessed or experienced—causes extreme distress and interferes with daily life. Traumatic events like war, flooding, sexual violence, shootings, and so on can cause PTSD. Mild to severe PTSD symptoms might occur concurrently with anxiety disorders like panic attacks. However, how each person reacts to these symptoms will vary. Additionally, the duration of the symptoms can vary from person to person.
Psychotic Disorders
These are a range of disorders that lead to bizarre views and thoughts, which eventually cause a person to lose contact with reality. Hallucinations and delusions are frequent. Psychotic disorders can be extremely distressing and difficult to manage in daily life. Schizophrenia in particular is characterized by severe deficits in reality perception as well as behavioral disturbances brought on by persistent delusions and hallucinations.
Addiction and Substance Use Disorders
Around 35 million people worldwide suffer from substance use disorder (SUD), a relatively common mental illness for which only 1 in 7 obtain treatment. An extreme craving for a certain substance is the hallmark of SUD, which is characterized as a chemical imbalance in the brain. These disorders typically develop due to self-medication, use as a coping mechanism or a prescription for an addictive substance like opioids. SUD is incurable, unlike several of the disorders on this list. Once a person has an addiction, they will always have it. After that, continued care is always required.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
An extremely common disorder characterized by impulsivity, hyperactivity, and attention issues. Additionally, people with ADHD may struggle to concentrate on a single job or maintain their stillness for extended periods of time. ADHD is frequently identified in childhood and is present throughout adulthood in cases that can range from moderate to severe.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
BPD is characterized by mood, behavior, and relational instability, with a tendency for more instability than in bipolar disorder individuals. Persons with BPD may suffer unpredictable, severe mood swings that are unpredictable and significantly more common, which frequently cause anxiety, impulsivity, and a breakdown in social connections.
Conclusion
Psychological, emotional, and social well-being all fall under the category of “mental health.” It impacts our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence to adulthood, requires attention to mental health. Adequate attention should be given to discovering mental health disorders so treatment can be commenced as early as possible to prevent neurological sequelae.
References
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders
