What are the different factors causing mental illness.
From time to time, everyone goes through transformation in their behavior, emotions and thoughts. However, when these changes start interfering with your daily activities then it can be the signs of mental illness.
It is important to know that mental illness often take several forms right from anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, depression to bipolar disorder. Mental health concern turns into a mental illness when your ongoing signs and symptoms start causing stress and affect the ability to function properly.
A mental illness can make you unhappy and also cause issues in your daily life like at work or in relationships. However, in some cases, symptoms can be managed with the right combination of medicines as well as talk therapy.
This article contains:
Signs and symptoms of mental illness
Depending upon the disorder, conditions and other factors, the signs and symptoms of mental illness can differ. It is important to know that mental illness symptoms can affect your behavior, emotions and thoughts as well.
Here are some signs and symptoms of mental illness that you must know:
Feeling worried or nervous
Everyone gets worried or stressed from time to time. However, if the worry is constant and restricts all the time then anxiety can be the sign of your mental health disorder.
The other symptoms of anxiety can include sweating, heart palpitations, restlessness, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, trembling, sweating, a racing mind, diarrhea and others.
Changes in mood
The very first sign of mental health problem is extreme changes in your mood. While suffering from mental illness, you will experience mood changes. Extreme changes in your mood are often considered as the first warning sign of mental illness.
In case, your mood and resultant behavior become random for long time then it is necessary to take the help. Mental illnesses such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and some personality ailments are linked with severe mood swings.
Feeling unhappy or depressed
The signs of depression mainly include lack in motivation & energy, being sad for the last few weeks or months, being teary every time and losing interest in your hobby.
Failure to manage stress
With time, stress has now become a regular part of everyone’s life. Between duties like school, friends, family and work, one can feel pulled into different directions.
Everyone controls stress in a different way because coping is an important element of mental well-being. You often start suffering from mental illness, when you are not able to manage the stress of your daily life. Remember stress is responsible for worsening different mental illnesses like depression or anxiety.
Sleep problems
Lasting changes to a person’s sleep patterns is often contemplated as a symptom of a mental health problem. Insomnia is often a sign of anxiety or substance abuse. Sleeping too much or too little reveal sleeping disorder or depression.
Lack of energy
There are times when you feel fatigued even after having a full night sleep. You need to know that fatigue can indicate several things right from seasonal allergies to infection. Lack of energy is also linked with mental illness. Be it anxiety or depression, both have recognized link to fatigue.
Anyone can undergo such kind of mental illnesses including women, children, men and adults.
Changes in weight or appetite
For some people, fluctuating weight or rapid weight loss can be one of the major signs of mental health disorder. In case, you suffer from an eating disorder for a few weeks or a month then consult the doctor.
Substance abuse
Several people with substance abuse disorders also experience mental illnesses. Mental health disorders like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar disorder are all linked with high rates of substance abuse disorders.
Using substances in order to cope like alcohol or drugs can be a symptom of mental health ailments. Using substances also contribute to mental illness.
Thus, if you experience any of the signs or symptoms of mental illness stated above then consult an expert.
What makes you suffer from mental illness?
Though the exact cause of mental illnesses is not known, but some genetic and environmental factors can contribute to mental disorder. Here are some causes of mental illness:
Genetic
Mental illness is more common in people who have a blood relative with mental disorder. There are certain genes that can be genetic and increase the risk of experiencing mental disorder.
However, environmental factors and other psychological or physical stressors can increase the risk of mental illness in people with genetic predispositions.
Transformed chemistry in the brain
Neurotransmitters are chemicals present in your brain that carry signals to other parts of your brain as well as the rest of the body. When the functions of these chemicals are disturbed, the normal function of the nerve systems start to change and cause mental disorders.
Environmental exposures before birth
Exposure to environmental stressors, toxins, inflammatory conditions, or medicines during pregnancy can increase the risk mental disorder in child later in his or her life.
Risk Factors involved with mental illness?
There are certain factors which can increase your risk of suffering from mental illness:
- Traumatic experiences like sexual assault, etc.
- Family history of mental illness.
- Unpleasant childhood because of abuse, bullying or neglect.
- Prior history of mental illness.
- Trauma to the brain.
- Enduring medical conditions mainly diseases that are linked with chronic pain and diseases which affect quality of life like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.
- Alcoholism or drug abuse.
- Severe psychological or physical stress because of stressful conditions in like like loss of a job, financial issues, divorce or death of a loved one.
Remember the condition of every individual should be considered carefully and treatment must be personalized accordingly. Comprehensive treatment to prevent early symptoms from growing into severe illness can include vocational & educational support, ongoing individual & family counseling, participation in problem-solving groups and even medicine when required.