Understanding Mental Illness and Working Towards a Better You!
Mental illnesses are becoming increasingly common. In fact, as of 2020, it’s estimated that nearly 53 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with some kind of mental illness.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.8″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” text_text_color=”#343434″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ text_font_size=”15px”]Given how prominent mentaāl illnesses are becoming, we take a medical approach to mental illness to help you identify signs of one and make seeking treatment for a mental illness easy. We’ll break down for you the most common types of mental illnesses, how they affect people, and help you understand the most common ways of treating them.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.8″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” text_text_color=”#343434″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ text_font_size=”15px”]The National Institutes of Health (NIH) define two key types of mental illness: any mental illness (AMI) or a serious mental illness (SMI). The difference between the two focuses mostly on how severely the mental illness interferes with your ability to function in daily life.
Any mental illness (AMI)
An AMI can refer to a range of different mental health illnesses, particularly ones that can have mild effects on a person’s day to day life without causing severe disability. Some common mental illnesses include the following:
Anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are probably the most common type of mental illness. This can include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, and phobias. Irritability, restlessness, and a general feeling of being on edge all the time are common signs of an anxiety disorder.
[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.14.8″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||fa||900″ icon_color=”#1999ce” icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”1100px” image_icon_width=”10px” image_icon_custom_margin=”8px|||22px|false|false” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” body_font_size=”15px” body_text_color=”#343434″ custom_margin=”|||-24px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]Obsessive compulsive disorders. People with obsessive compulsive disorders usually have obsessive thoughts and possibly behaviors. These thoughts often cause anxiety that can compound engaging in obsessive behaviors.
[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.8″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” text_text_color=”#343434″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ text_font_size=”15px”]Serious mental illness (SMI)
An SMI, on the other hand, is a condition that can significantly disrupt your life, making day-to-day tasks challenging, if not impossible. Some of the most common types of SMI include the following:
Bipolar disorder. As a mood disorder, bipolar disorder is characterized by sudden and extreme shifts in a person’s mood. People usually experience “manic” periods where they may be very happy and full of energy. Then, without warning, they enter periods of depression.
[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.14.8″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||fa||900″ icon_color=”#1999ce” icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”1100px” image_icon_width=”10px” image_icon_custom_margin=”8px|||22px|false|false” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” body_font_size=”15px” body_text_color=”#343434″ custom_margin=”|||-24px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]Major depressive disorder (MDD). Along with anxiety disorders, MDD is the most common mental illness in the U.S. We probably all have a generic image of depression in our mind, though the experience of depression varies. It can include general feelings of sadness, but also lethargy and feelings of hopelessness.
[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.14.8″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||fa||900″ icon_color=”#1999ce” icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”1100px” image_icon_width=”10px” image_icon_custom_margin=”8px|||22px|false|false” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” body_font_size=”15px” body_text_color=”#343434″ custom_margin=”||33px|-24px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]Schizophrenia. One of the more serious mental illnesses, schizophrenia affects how people view reality. Schizophrenia is commonly characterized by hallucinations, but it also includes disorganized thinking and behavior, as well.
[/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.8″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” text_text_color=”#343434″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ text_font_size=”17px”]Finding the Right Treatment for a Mental Illness
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.8″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” text_text_color=”#343434″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ text_font_size=”15px”]Therapy
The first step for treating any type of mental illness is usually in-person therapy with a trained psychiatrist. Therapy is usually a collaborative effort between you and your psychiatrist. Together, they will help you understand your illness, identify what’s causing it, and help you develop strategies to cope with your illness. Some of the most prominent therapeutic approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing behavior to help you manage your illness.
Therapy
The first step for treating any type of mental illness is usually in-person therapy with a trained psychiatrist. Therapy is usually a collaborative effort between you and your psychiatrist. Together, they will help you understand your illness, identify what’s causing it, and help you develop strategies to cope with your illness. Some of the most prominent therapeutic approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing behavior to help you manage your illness.