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Mental illnessesTSR Wiki > Life > Health and Relationships > Mental Health > Mental Illnesses One in four people are efected by some form of mental disorder. So I have created this article to exlain a few of them, to help us to understand one anothers disorders and to help the 3/4 people who suffer from none understand a little of the difficulties that these disorders cause. However, I would like to stress - noone is defined by their disorder, the disorder is only a small part of who they are.
Mood disordersThese disorders, also called affective disorders, involve persistent feelings of sadness or periods of feeling overly happy, or fluctuations from extreme happiness to extreme sadness. The most common mood disorders are depression, mania and bipolar disorder. DepressionDepression is a serious illness. Health professionals use the terms depression, depressive illness or clinical depression to refer to something very different from the common experience of feeling miserable or fed-up for a short period of time. When you’re depressed, you may have feelings of extreme sadness that can last for a long time. These feelings are severe enough to interfere with your daily life, and can last for weeks or months, rather than days. Depression is quite a common condition, and about 15% of people will have a bout of severe depression at some point in their lives. However, the exact number of people with depression is hard to estimate because many people do not get help, or are not formally diagnosed with the condition. Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men, although men are far more likely to commit suicide. This may be because men are more reluctant to seek help for depression. Depression can affect people of any age, including children. Studies have shown that 2% of teenagers in the UK are affected by depression. People with a family history of depression are more likely to experience depression themselves. Depression affects people in many different ways and can cause a wide variety of physical, psychological (mental) and social symptoms. A few people still think that depression is not a real illness and that it is a form of weakness or admission of failure. This is simply not true. Depression is a real illness with real effects, and it is certainly not a sign of failure. In fact, famous leaders, such as Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi, all experienced bouts of depression. Bi-polar disorderBipolar disorder - previously known as manic depression - is a condition that affects your moods, which can swing from one extreme to another. If you have bipolar disorder you will have periods, or ‘episodes’, of depression and mania.
Both extremes of bipolar disorder have a number of other associated symptoms. Unlike simple mood swings, each extreme episode of bipolar disorder can last for several weeks or longer. The high and low phases of the illness are often so extreme that they interfere with everyday life. The depression phase of bipolar disorder often comes first. Initially, you may be diagnosed with clinical depression before having a manic episode some time later (sometimes years later), after which your diagnosis might change. During an episode of depression, you may have overwhelming feelings of worthlessness which often lead to thoughts of suicide. During a manic phase of bipolar disorder, you may feel very happy and have lots of ambitious plans and ideas. You may spend large amounts of money on things that you cannot afford. Not feeling like eating or sleeping, talking quickly, and becoming annoyed easily are also common characteristics of bipolar disorder. During the manic phase, you may feel very creative and view mania as a positive experience. However, during the manic phase of bipolar disorder, you may also have symptoms of psychosis (where you see or hear things that are not there).
AnxietyEveryone experiences feelings of anxiety during their lifetime. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an examination or having a medical test or job interview. Feeling anxious sometimes is perfectly normal. However, for people with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), feelings of anxiety are much more constant and tend to affect their day-to-day life. There are several conditions for which anxiety is the main symptom. Panic disorder, phobias, and post-traumatic syndrome can all cause severe anxiety
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)GAD is a long-term condition that makes people feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event. People with GAD find that they feel anxious most days, and will often struggle to remember the last time that they felt relaxed. GAD can cause both psychological and physical symptoms. GAD affects approximately one in 50 people at some stage during their lifetime. Slightly more women are affected than men, and the disorder is most common during your 20s. GAD can significantly affect your daily life, making it difficult for you to perform everyday tasks. However, there are several different treatment options available, which can help ease both your psychological and physical symptoms.
Social anxietyAlso called social phobia, social anxiety disorder involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. The worry often centers on a fear of being judged by others, or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or lead to ridicule. This can lead to isolation and avoidence of social siturations (including lectures)
Specific phobiasA specific phobia is an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as snakes, heights, or flying. The level of fear usually is inappropriate to the situation and may cause the person to avoid common, everyday situations.
Post traumatic stress disorderPTSD is a condition that can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event, such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. People with PTSD often have lasting and frightening thoughts and memories of the event, and tend to be emotionally numb. Diagnostic symptoms include re-experiencing original trauma(s), by means of flashbacks or nightmares; avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma; and increased arousal, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, anger, and hypervigilance. Formal diagnostic criteria (both DSM-IV and ICD-9) require that the symptoms last more than one month and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (e.g. problems with work and/or relationships) Psychotic disordersThese are a group of serious illnesses that affect the mind. These illnesses alter a person's ability to think clearly, make good judgments, respond emotionally, communicate effectively, understand reality, and behave appropriately. When symptoms are severe, people with psychotic disorders have difficulty staying in touch with reality and often are unable to meet the ordinary demands of daily life. However, even the most severe psychotic disorders usually are treatable.
SchizophreniaSchizophrenia is a chronic mental health condition that causes a range of different psychological symptoms. These include:
The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown. However, most experts believe that the condition is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Schizophrenia is one of the most common serious mental health conditions. One in 100 people will experience at least one episode of acute schizophrenia during their lifetime. Men and women are equally affected by the condition. One misconception is that people with schizophrenia have a split or dual personality, acting perfectly normal one minute and then irrationally or bizarrely the next. However, this is totally untrue. Schizophrenia is a Greek word that means 'split mind', but the term was first used long before the condition was properly understood. It would be more accurate to say that people with schizophrenia have a mind that can experience episodes of dysfunction and disorder. Another misconception about schizophrenia is that people who have the condition are violent. Again, there is little evidence to back this up. Acts of violence committed by people with schizophrenia get a great deal of high-profile media coverage, and this can give the impression that such acts happen frequently when they are in fact very rare. A person with schizophrenia is far more likely to be the victim of violent crime, rather than the instigator. Experts at the Royal College of Psychiatrists estimate that if schizophrenia could be cured overnight, the rate of violent crime in England would only drop by 1%.
ParaphreniaThis is a type of schizophrenia that starts late in life and occurs in the elderly population.
Schizoaffective disorderPeople with this illness have symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder, such as depression or bipolar disorder
Schizophreniform disorderPeople with this illness have symptoms of schizophrenia, but the symptoms last more than one month but less than six months. Brief psychotic disorderPeople with this illness have sudden, short periods of psychotic behavior, often in response to a very stressful event, such as as starting university. Recovery is often quick -- usually less than a month.
Substance-induced psychotic disorderThis condition is caused by the use of or withdrawal from some substances, such as alcohol and crack cocaine, that may cause hallucinations, delusions, or confused speech.
Dissociative disordersPeople with these disorders suffer severe disturbances or changes in memory, consciousness, identity, and general awareness of themselves and their surroundings. These disorders usually are associated with overwhelming stress, which may be the result of traumatic events, accidents or disasters that may be experienced or witnessed by the individual
Dissociative Identity DisorderFormerly called multiple personality disorder, it is characterised by the existence of two or more distinct personality states that have the capacity to take control of the body, and the inability to recall personal information too great to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness. The condition cannot be due to the effect of substances or a medical condition. There may be accompanying symptoms such as depression, anxiety, obsessive/compulsive behaviour and eating disorders. Some cases undoubtedly arise from continued and repeated sexual and/or physical abuse beginning in early childhood. In such cases DID is a defensive mechanism that protects the child from the physical and emotional pain associated with abuse by separating a part of the child's mind or consciousness to deal with the trauma of the abuse. Over time and repeated abuse, these separate parts establish identities of their own. This is a protective measure put down by the brain to prevent too much damage to the host. People with DID have been shown to be highly susceptible to dissociation, are generally of above average intelligence, and highly creative. The object of treatment is to stabilize the person and lessen the degree of dissociation - a process called integration. Alternatively they can opt to gain a level of co-cosiousness wherein the members of the system will all co-habit and work together within the one body. According to some studies, the 'average' person diagnosed with DID spends seven years in the mental health system before being properly diagnosed, due to misdiagnosis and lack of training on the part of therapists to spot the disorder.
Dissociative fugueDissociative fugue is characterized by sudden, unexpected travels from the home or workplace with an inability to recall some or all of one's past. Some of these patients assume a new identity or are confused about their own identity. They seem to be running away from something of which they are unaware. After the fugue episode resolves, patients are unable to remember the events of the state. Although moving occurs in other disorders, in fugue it is purposeful and is not enacted in a confused or dazed state. In a typical case, the fugue is brief, with purposeful travel, and with limited contact with others. Approximately 0.2% of the general population has dissociative fugue. DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for fugue require that the predominant disturbance is sudden, unexpected travel away from home or one's workplace coupled with the inability to recall one's past. Also, the person has confusion about personal identity or assumes a new identity. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of DID and is not due to the direct physiologic effects of a substance or medication. The symptoms also must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Depersonalisation disorderDepersonalization is characterized by feelings that the objects of the external environment are changing shape and size, or that people are automated and inhuman, and features detachment as a major defense. Depersonalization disorder usually begins in adolescence; typically, patients have continuous symptoms. Onset can be sudden or gradual. An estimated 2.4% of the general population meets the diagnostic criteria for this disorder. However, the prevalence rate is questioned by many clinicians and may be lower. This disorder frequently coexists with mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders.
Dissociative disorder not otherwise specifiedDDNOS is a category of disorders that manifest with dissociative symptoms but fail to meet the diagnostic criteria for any of the dissociative syndromes described. An example of DDNOS is Ganser syndrome. This entity occurs primarily in men (80%) and is currently regarded as a dissociative means of withdrawal from a traumatic or stressful circumstance. It is characterized by absurd or approximate responses to interview dialogue, a dazed or clouded level of consciousness, somatic conversion symptoms (eg, pseudoparalysis), hallucinations, and, frequently, anterograde amnesia regarding the episode. Patients who demonstrate this phenomenon may have a past history of abuse or other trauma. In general, these patients are at higher risk for dissociative symptoms when under stress.
Eating DisordersProblems with food can begin when it is used to cope with those times when you are anxious, angry, lonely, ashamed or sad. Food becomes a problem when it's used to help you to cope with painful situations or feelings, or to relieve stress, perhaps without you even realising it. It is unlikely that an eating disorder will be the result of one single cause. It is much more likely to be a combination of many factors, events, feelings or pressures that lead to you feeling unable to cope. These can include: low self-esteem, family relationships, problems with friends, the death of someone special, problems at work, college or at university, lack of confidence, or sexual or emotional abuse. Many people talk about simply feeling ‘too fat’ or ‘not good enough’. People with eating disorders often say that the eating disorder is the only way they feel they can stay in control of their life. But as time goes on it isn’t really you who is in control – it is the eating disorder. Some people also find they are affected by an urge to harm themselves or misuse alcohol or drugs. Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of age, sex, cultural or racial background. But the people most likely to be affected tend to be young women, particularly between the ages of 15 and 25. Traumatic events can sometimes trigger an eating disorder: bereavement, being bullied or abused, an upheaval in the family (such as divorce), long-term illness or concerns over sexuality. Someone with a long-term illness or disability (such as diabetes, depression, blindness or deafness) may also experience eating problems. AnorexiaAnorexia nervosa means 'loss of appetite for nervous reasons'. In fact, people with anorexia nervosa may have a normal appetite. But they have lost the ability to allow themselves to satisfy their appetite. They probably:
BulimiaThe term bulimia nervosa means literally ‘the nervous hunger of an ox’. The hunger, however, is really an emotional need that cannot be satisfied by food alone. After binge-eating a large quantity of food to fill the emotional or hunger gap, there is an urge to immediately get rid of the food by vomiting or taking laxatives (or both), by starving or reducing food intake, or by working off the calories with exercise in an attempt not to gain weight. Bulimia is more difficult to notice as someone with bulimia will tend not to lose weight dramatically, or their weight will fluctuate. You may not recognise the illness in a friend, so it can persist for many years undetected. Binge eating disorder Binge eating symptoms are also present in bulimia. The formal diagnosis criteria are similar in that subjects must binge at least twice per week for a minimum period of three months. Unlike in bulimia, those with BED do not purge, fast or engage in strenous exercise after binge eating. Binge eating disorder is similar to, but it is distinct from, compulsive overeating. Those with BED do not have a compulsion to overeat and do not spend a great deal of time fantasizing about food. On the contrary, some people with binge eating disorder have very negative feelings about food. As with other eating disorders, binge eating is an "expressive disorder" — a disorder that is an expression of deeper psychological problems. Some researchers believe BED is a milder form, or subset of bulimia nervosa, while others argue that it is its own distinct disorder. Compulsive overeatingAn individual suffering from compulsive overeating disorder engages in frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binging, during which they may feel frenzied or out of control, often consuming food past the point of being comfortably full. Bingeing in this way is generally followed by feelings of guilt and depression. Unlike individuals with bulimia, compulsive overeaters do not attempt to compensate for their bingeing with purging behaviors such as fasting, laxative use or vomiting. Compulsive overeaters will typically eat when they are not hungry. Their obsession is demonstrated in that they spend excessive amounts of time and thought devoted to food, and secretly plan or fantasize about eating alone. Compulsive overeating usually leads to weight gain and obesity, but not everyone who is obese is also a compulsive overeater. In addition to binge eating, compulsive overeaters can also engage in grazing behavior, during which they return to pick at food throughout the day. This results in a large overall number of calories consumed even if the quantities eaten at any one time may be small. Eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS)This category is frequently used for people who meet some, but not all, of the diagnostic criteria for anarexia or bulimia. A sufferer may experience episodes of binging and purging, but may not do so frequently enough to warrant a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. A person may also engage in binging episodes without the use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors; this is referred to as binge eating disorder. People diagnosed with EDNOS may frequently switch between different eating disorders, or may with time fit all diagnostic criteria for anorexia or bulimia. Orthorexia nervosaA term used to denote an eating disorder characterized by excessive focus on eating healthy foods. In rare cases, this focus may turn into a fixation so extreme that it can lead to severe malnutrition or even death. Unlike anarexia and bulimia where the goal is weight loss or control here the goal of the person is to feel pure, healthy and natural.
Impulse control and addiction disordersPeople with impulse control disorders are unable to resist urges, or impulses, to perform acts that could be harmful to themselves or others. Pyromania (starting fires), kleptomania (stealing) and compulsive gambling are examples of impulse control disorders. Alcohol and drugs are common objects of addictions. Often, people with these disorders become so involved with the objects of their addiction that they begin to ignore responsibilities and relationships.
Adjustment disorderAdjustment disorder occurs when a person develops emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to a stressful event or situation. The stressors may include natural disasters, such as an earthquake or tornado; events or crises, such as a car accident or the diagnosis of a major illness; or interpersonal problems, such as a divorce, death of a loved one, loss of a job or a problem with substance abuse. Adjustment disorder usually begins within three months of the event or situation and ends within six months after the stressor stops or is eliminated.
Personality disordersPeople with personality disorders have extreme and inflexible personality traits that are distressing to the person and/or cause problems in work, school or social relationships. In addition, the person's patterns of thinking and behavior significantly differ from the expectations of society and are so rigid that they interfere with the person's normal functioning. Examples include antisocial personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and paranoid personality disorder
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