Overview
Mental illness vs Mental disorder
Mental illnesses can be an umbrella term for a range of
conditions that cause significant distress and affect daily life. Some common
examples include mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression, eating
disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse or personality changes,
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These conditions and their treatments can be complicated by underlying
emotional distress and a lack of understanding from family and friends. The two
most prevalent types of this type of distress are the obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
The obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by
repetitive behaviors, thoughts, or actions. An individual with OCD often
struggles to control his obsessions in which he is so fixated on that his mind
is filled with intrusive, unwanted ideas about what may happen if he does not
act on them. Often they are tied to specific activities like cleaning or
counting.
An example of how someone could be affected by OCD can be
seen through how people would find it difficult to focus when reading or
watching television or even going to school. Because of an inability to calm
and relax this leads them into having difficulty focusing and completing tasks
even if they know that they have completed everything on time and are supposed
to do it right. This also means that an individual's grades have been affected
negatively due their inability to concentrate in class and perform well at school.
Furthermore, because of these intense feelings an individual may lose sleep at
night and may even experience nightmares. As a result, an individual may feel
depressed, exhausted, and even suicidal. Although there are many possible
causes for OCD there have been very few studies done regarding its effects upon
individuals and much research needs to be done on it. However, some of the
symptoms of this condition have been known to precede other conditions such as
anxiety. Anxiety is a psychological problem where one feels “an excessive and
persistent worry and nervousness about events that might occur” which can last
for several days or weeks
As stated previously a person who has severe cases of OCD
will become overly fixated on particular things which prevents him from being
able to enjoy everyday life even if he knows that doing so will harm him or
others around him. People who suffer from OCD may also tend to avoid work and
social situations because they fear that they will make themselves ill and
therefore will need medical treatment. When they do not clean their rooms and
compulsively count things they believe should be counted they may start feeling
nauseous, have migraines, nausea, headaches, and problems sleeping. Most likely
they will take pills or alcohol to help them deal with this. If this happens
they will be put on medication to help control these symptoms. A typical
scenario would be someone taking medicine on a regular basis which can lead to
increased levels of side effects causing them to develop new ones. For those
who do not believe in the existence of God this may lead to an increase in
suicide and self-harm behavior. In recent times however, scientists believe
that the brain chemicals associated with OCD is simply a function of survival and
our ability to survive is more important than anything else.
Generalized anxiety can last anywhere from six months to
five years but can be significantly more pronounced during childhood or
adolescence. Generalized anxiety disorder is a neurological disease where
anxiety becomes exaggerated in an exaggerated way. Someone who suffers from GAD
may often feel anxious all day long and overthink things that they think will
cause them severe damage like getting attacked by an animal or losing their
job. Even though they may be anxious they may struggle to cope with this fear
or may be unable to cope which results in extreme panic attacks. They often
find it hard to leave their house or engage in any kind of leisure activity and
may even go to great measures to distract themselves from this anxiety like
constantly checking their phones with the sole purpose to look at a screen
instead of engaging in some sort of physical activity. Due to repeated anxiety
triggers in their lives this can lead to issues with memory, concentration, and
impulsivity. Another part of the generalization theory is that it is caused by
past traumatic experiences causing them to have a constant state of anxiety
leading to behavioral triggers being activated. All of these factors may
explain why there is currently no cure for GAD as it is still considered a
treatable condition. There is currently no vaccine for GAD, but research into
developing better alternatives is ongoing.
It is no secret that children and adults alike struggle
with mental illness today. Overlooking the signs of these conditions through
normal life may be detrimental to their quality life. It is imperative to
recognize the warning signs and seek assistance as soon as possible if you
suspect you may have a mental illness. Finding resources to assist your loved
ones can be extremely helpful as they may be unaware of the proper treatment
procedures as well as knowing what steps to take if they become overwhelmed. By
following these suggestions and reaching out to professional care providers you
may be able to obtain proper treatment for yourself or another friend or
relative suffering from a mental illness. Your family is usually able to come
along with you in the first few appointments which provides a sense of comfort.
Being aware of your own mental health and seeking help early on is vital in
order to maximize your mental health. Whether you have been diagnosed with a
mental illness or not, please be patient with yourself and your mental health.
You deserve it.
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