Stressful events such as job loss, divorce or death of a parent can trigger feelings of sadness, worry and fear. When these feelings manifest for a prolonged period they can develop into emotional diseases that affect physical and mental health. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians in an article entitled “Mind/Body Connection: How Your Emotions Affect Your Health,” headaches, insomnia and sweating are some of the physical signs from emotional disturbances.
Depression
Depression is a deadly emotional disease according to an article in Harvard Magazine entitled "A Deadly Emotional Disease". People with depression experience feelings of persistent sadness and worthlessness. People with major depression can have symptoms that interfere with work, sleep and other daily activities, whereas people with mild depression can have symptoms that do not disable the person but can still last for two years. Ronald Kessler Ph.D. and colleagues at Harvard Medical School discovered that approximately 16 percent of people in the United States will experience depression during their lifetime. Depression can be treated by talk therapy and medications such as antidepressants. If people with depression do not get early treatment, they can be at risk for other emotional and mental illnesses, such as anxiety or suicide.
Anxiety
Anxiety is an emotional disease involving worries and fears. There are several types of anxiety. Generalized anxiety is an illness characterized by emotional disturbances of excessive worry and tension. People with generalized anxiety anticipate disaster and exacerbate concerns about daily activities and problems. When anxiety levels are high, people with generalized anxiety can have problems with relationships, work and daily activities. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, generalized anxiety affects almost 7 million U.S. adults, with twice as many women as men. People who are obsessive-compulsive have recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviors that can be exacerbated by an exaggerated fear of germs, illness or safety that can result in excessive washing of hands or turning and checking key locks. People who experience panic have intense fear from something unexpected and repeated. Post-traumatic stress causes people to feel emotionally numb after a traumatic event and become terrified when reminded of that experience. Some people with social anxiety are afraid of being humiliated or watched by others. People with other phobias may fear insects, animals, heights or enclosed places. Psychotherapy and drug therapy can help people with anxiety to manage or reduce their symptoms.
Personality
Emotional disturbances affecting a person’s personality can impact their ability to relate with other people. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates approximately 9 percent of adults ages 18 and older have a diagnosable personality disorder that includes antisocial, avoidant and borderline. People who are antisocial are indifferent to other people’s feelings and rights. Avoidant personality people are inhibited to socialize because they fear being disliked or humiliated by other people. A person who has a borderline personality has a poor self-image that can cause unstable relationships with others. Some people have feelings of paranoia, a disease that is characterized by being suspicious and mistrusting of others.
References
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Mind/Body Connection: How Your Emotions Affect Your Health
- Harvard Magazine: A Deadly Emotional Disease
- "Archives of General Psychiatry"; Lifetime Prevalence Age-of-Onset Distributions; Kessler, R.C.; Jun 2005
- National Institute of Mental Health: The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America
