Mental Disorders symptoms include a wide range of behaviors, feelings and thoughts that can affect your health and quality of life. They often come on gradually, but can be so severe that they interfere with daily functioning.
Depression, anxiety and psychosis are three of the most common types of mental illness. They can cause serious problems in people’s lives, including social isolation, low self-esteem, loss of job or social relationships and even suicidal thoughts.
Symptoms vary by person and problem, but they often include changes in mood, behavior, or sleep patterns. Early diagnosis and treatment can help you or someone you love live better with a mental illness, even if it is a mild one.
Diagnosis is a complex process that requires a multi-step evaluation and includes looking at your medical history, performing a physical exam, and asking questions about your symptoms. Your doctor will also do a psychological evaluation to learn about your symptoms and how they have affected your life.
Some people develop mental disorders in childhood, but many adults also have them. They can be caused by a number of factors, including genetics, environmental issues or stress.
Psychotic disorders are characterized by distorted thinking and can lead to hallucinations, delusions or other irrational beliefs. They can also make it difficult to trust those around you.
These disorders can be treated with medication and therapy. Antidepressants and antipsychotics are the most common medications used to treat these disorders.
Other conditions that can lead to serious symptoms include autism, bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition is caused by a traumatic event like a car accident, rape or war and is characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, irritability, anger and avoidance of situations or objects that trigger memories of the trauma.
GAD, or generalized anxiety disorder, is a disorder involving excessive worry and worry that causes problems in your daily life and interferes with work, school or relationships. Other symptoms can include a change in eating habits and trouble sleeping.
Psychiatric disorders can be treated with medications and therapy, as well as alternative treatments. Brain stimulation therapies, for example, can be effective in some cases and may even help some people recover from their mental illnesses without the need for medication.
Panic attacks, or panic disorder, are characterized by sudden, intense, and recurrent episodes of fear or dread that seem to occur for no reason at all. They can cause nausea, trembling, racing heart rate and a sense of impending doom.
Some people have phobias, which are extreme fears of certain things or situations. Phobias are usually triggered by a particular object or situation and can cause severe anxiety and even cause the person to experience panic attacks.
A therapist can help you understand the triggers of your phobias, and can teach you techniques to prevent them from occurring. Some therapists specialize in treating specific phobias, such as claustrophobia, while others have expertise in a variety of mental health disorders.
