Mental Health Disorders

Understanding mental disorders can give you insights that will allow you to show
empathy to persons with these conditions.

Mental Disorders

Mental health is part of holistic health. You may be physically healthy, but if your mind
is not in its optimal state, you cannot function well. A mental disorder is an illness of the
mind that reduces a person's ability to function, adjust to change, and get along with
other people. Mental disorders affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person
and can prevent him/her from living a happy and productive life. For example, a mental
disorder can affect one's studies, job, or relationships with friends and family.

Mental disorders are conditions that require proper diagnosis and treatment. However,
many do not seek treatment because they feel ashamed. They fear that people will look
down on them. "This is where you can make a big difference. Learning about some
mental disorders will make you sympathetic and understanding. This empathy may
allow you to help others in your own way.

Factors of Mental Disorders

Researchers conduct ongoing studies to find out what causes mental disorders. Much
still has to be discovered. Some mental disorders have just a single factor, whereas in
other cases, a combination of factors may be involved. Here are some factors of mental
disorders:

1. Heredity
A person may inherit a tendency to develop a mental disorder. This does not
mean that the person will develop a mental condition if there is a family history
of mental disorder. It simply means that this person has a greater risk of
developing a mental disorder if triggered by negative life events or other factors.
 2. Physical factors
Damage to the brain can result in a mental disorder. Tumors or growths,
infections, and injury to the brain can cause damage. Prolonged use of alcohol
and other drugs and exposure to chemicals, such as lead, can also result in brain
damage.

3. Life experiences
Very negative experiences that occur early in life can lead to mental disorders. An
abused child, for example, may develop a mental illness when he/she grows up.
Recent experiences can also trigger a mental disorder. The death of a relative is
an example of a trigger.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

One mental disorder you should know about is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,

or ADHD. ADHD commonly stars or manifest during childhood. A person with ADHD
usually has difficulty at home, in school, and in the community setting. This condition
can be treated with proper medication, the improvement can be very quick and
dramatic.

Following are the signs and symptoms of ADHD. Some persons with this condition may
display all signs, whereas others show only signs of attention deficit or hyperactivity.

Signs of Attention Deficit:

 makes careless mistakes
 seems not to listen
 does not pay attention
 disorganized
 forgets routine daily activities
 has difficulty following simple instructions
 easily gets distracted

Signs of Hyperactivity:
 restless or fidgety when seated
 cannot stay in the seat for a long time
 has dificulty working quietly
 talks too much
 has no patience in waiting or taking turns
 interrupts others unnecessarily

Be careful though. Just because a person has trouble sitting still or paying attention to
details does not automatically mean he/she has ADHD. The signs must be frequent and
should affect the person's ability to function in the long term.
How do you think having ADHD can affect one's ability to study in school?
Mood Disorders

A mood disorder is an illness that involves extreme emotions that can interfere with
daily lives. These extreme emotions are more severe than the normal highs and lows
experienced by everyone. Mood disorders include bipolar disorder and depression.
Bipolar disorder is also called manic-depressive disorder. It is characterized by extreme
changes in mood, energy level, and behavior. People having a manic episode are very
restless and excited. They talk so fast that it is virtually impossible to follow what they
are trying to say. They also have difficulty concentrating for a long time. These manic
episodes then alternate with periods of depression. Depression is an emotional state in
which one feels extremely sad, doomed, and hopeless. In between manic episodes and
periods of depression, a person who has a bipolar disorder behaves normally.

Schizophrenia

One of the most distressing and serious mental disorders is schizophrenia. It is

described by severe disturbances in thinking, mood awareness, and behavior. People
with schizophrenia have minds that are separated from reality. People with this disorder
are rarely harmful to others. They may appear normal at times, but in other moments,
they may talk to themselves and show inappropriate emotional responses, act strangely,
and show withdrawal from other people. Sometimes they develop fears that are not
supported or explained by actual events, like believing that someone controls their
thoughts and wants to destroy or harm them.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsession is an unwanted image or thought that takes control of the mind. An

obsession may lead to a compulsion. Compulsion is an unreasonable need to behave in
a certain manner to prevent a feared outcome. Repetitively checking that a door is
locked or the faucet is closed is a compulsion. People who act and think in these ways
have an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

A person with a personality disorder sees the world in a different way and therefore
behaves differently from what is expected. Persons with personality disorders are
usually inflexible and do not realize it. As a consequence, they do not seek help unless
another person tells them to change their behavior. Like OCD, obsessive-compulsive
personality disorder (OCPD) is characterized by extreme perfectionism and involves
recurring and persistent thoughts or impulses. However, these thoughts and compulsive
behaviors are not as uncontrollable. Affected persons can be perfectionists about their
work and studies that they neglect personal relationships. They tend to be moralistic,
critical, and stingy. They also tend to be preoccupied with performing tasks perfectly but
usually end up being indecisive.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

People who survive life-threatening events such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or wars

may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These people may have frightening
memories, flashbacks, or nightmares that produce intense fear, horror, and frustration.
They may have trouble sleeping and concentrating and may avoid situations that remind
them of the event. They may even feel guilty because they survived while others did
not.

Where to Get Help

The first step toward managing mental disorders is recognizing the need for help. Being
aware that help is needed is therefore a positive sign. The following mental health
professionals can help you out:

1. Guidance counsellor - a professional who handles personal matters in school.

2. Psychologist - a professional who specializes in assessing the learning, emotional,
and behavioral issues of people.
3. Psychiatrist - a physician who diagnoses and treats mental disorders.
4. Neurologist - a physician who specializes in medical disorders of the nervous
system, which includes the brain.

Let’s Sum Up

 Mental disorders affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a person and can
prevent him/her from living a happy and productive life.
 Heredity, physical factors, and life experiences can be causes of mental disorders.
 ADHD is a common mental disorder that can easily be recognized and treated.
 Mood disorders involve extreme emotions that can interfere with daily life. These
conditions include bipolar disorder and depression.
 Schizophrenia, OCD, OCPD, and PTSD have to be detected so that persons with
these disorders can get the needed help.
 There are many mental health professionals who can help in managing mental
disorders such as a guidance councillor, psychologist, psychiatrist, and
neurologist.