Mental illness is a disease or condition that affects the brain and influences the way a person thinks, feels, behaves or interacts with others. Although there may be several contributing factors and the exact cause might not be known, mental illness is never a result of a weakness or flaw in character. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, the majority of people diagnosed with a mental illness and subsequently treated with appropriate medication and services will experience a significant reduction in symptoms and improved sense of well-being.
Anxiety Disorders
There are several different types of anxiety disorders, each with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to acute bouts of terror. Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is defined as a state of anxiety or excessive worry that lasts for a period of several months. Phobias are irrational fears that prevent people from participating in particular activities or life events. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, can result from experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or terrifying event. Panic disorder is a sudden and unexpected panic attack that occurs without warning.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD is characterized by impulsive behavior and the inability to focus on the project at hand. Symptoms of ADHD are characterized by three types of behavior: hyperactive-impulsive, inattentive or a combination of the two. Usually diagnosed in childhood, symptoms of ADHD can carry over into adulthood, although adaptive behaviors may make the diagnosis more difficult.
Bipolar Disorder
Although symptoms vary, sudden mood swings ranging from depression to manic behavior is the hallmark of manic depression or bipolar disorder. Feelings of highs and lows are often interspersed with feelings in the normal range.
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder is defined as the inclination to react more intensely to ordinary feelings. Traits can include self-destructive behavior, the inability to control emotions or problems with self-identity. People with BPD are often intelligent and witty but have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships due to their tendency to interpret their world as all good or all bad.
Dissociative Disorders
Diagnosis of a type of dissociative disorder is defined by the manner in which a person attempts to escape reality, according to the Mayo Clinic website. The inability to recall traumatic events in childhood, a sense of viewing one's self from outside the body or physically leaving a location are attempts to distance one's self from personal identity. When under pressure, persons with dissociative disorders may switch identities as a way to manage stressful circumstances---the condition formerly known as multiple personality disorder.
Substance Abuse Disorder
Substance abuse disorders are characterized by the continued use of alcohol, prescription medications or illegal substances despite serious ramifications regarding health, relationships and legal penalties. It is estimated that approximately 50 percent of people with serious mental health disorders also have problems with substance abuse.
Major Depression
According to MedlinePlus, the online health information resource maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, major depression is a mood disorder with five or more depressive symptoms lasting for at least two weeks. Major depression may be a result of chemical imbalances in the brain, heredity or a traumatic life event.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a mental illness that causes people to engage in repetitive, ritual behaviors in order to eliminate unwanted stress and provoking thoughts. Common obsessions include fear of germs, a need for balance or perfection in tasks, or repetitive thoughts about words or numbers. In order to relieve the stress caused by obsessive thoughts, a person may engage in rituals that typically relieve anxiety for a short period of time before beginning the process again.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic and serious illness that affects approximately 1 percent of the population over the age of 18. Although the causes are unknown, people with schizophrenia often experience auditory hallucinations, disordered thinking and recurring thoughts that convince them others are reading their minds, controlling their thinking and planning to cause them harm.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a mood disorder and type of depression that typically occurs during the winter months or anytime there is little exposure to natural light.
