Dealing With a Mental Disorder

Mental disorders (sometimes called mental illnesses) are mental conditions that impact your thought, feelings, behavior, and emotions. They can be long-term or occasional (short-term). They can adversely impact your ability to function every day and relate well to others. In short, they rob you of your peace of mind. And the longer they go untreated, the worse they get.

The majority of the two to twenty million people who suffer from some form of mental disorder in the United States live in poverty. They have little or no social support and often turn to self-medication. In addition, they do not receive adequate treatment when they first present to a physician. In short, without social support, they cannot cope with everyday life.

The stigma attached to mental disorder is extreme. People with one or more psychological or physical illnesses feel inferior, unworthy, and isolated. They are reluctant to participate in most activities, and even those that they choose to participate in are met with resistance and ridicule. It’s a surety that if they left their illness untreated, they would lose their social support network.

Fortunately, families can help those coping with mental health conditions to survive and thrive. With the right amount of support and resources, family members can provide the emotional and physical support needed to help their loved one cope with their condition. It’s important for these families to understand that the mental illness is a separate condition from the person’s ability to function in society. In other words, your loved one’s illness doesn’t make them a bad person; it makes them different.

Your loved one’s illness may be both short- and long-term. Short-term mental health problems may include the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adjustment disorders, or adjustment disorders associated with aging, such as dementia or normal aging-related changes. Long-term mental health problems, on the other hand, may include things like bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, or bi-polar disorder. These conditions can last for months, years, or even decades. Understanding how long a person with a mental disorder has been suffering is critical to being able to treat their physical health as well.

There are several ways that you may be able to determine the severity of your loved one’s mental disorder. You may need to ask their doctor or counselor about potential concerns. They may also refer you to a specialist such as a psychiatrist or psychologist. Another great way to get the information you need is to go online. There are websites that address both short-term mental health conditions and long-term mental health conditions, so it’s easy to see that professionals provide the best care for the needs that you have.

When someone suffers from a mental illness, it can be very devastating not only for them but for their family as well. Coping with an illness is not easy, but it can be done. The important thing to know is that there is help out there if you and your loved ones are struggling with your mental health or you are concerned that someone you love may be dealing with such problems. Talk to your physician, therapist, or social worker to make sure that you are getting the treatment you need to deal with your illness and to improve your quality of life. There is no reason why anyone should have to live with depression, anxiety, fear of social situations, or other mental health issues that can negatively affect their well-being.

It is estimated that one out of every fifty American adults suffer from some form of mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, major depression, schizoaffective disorder, adjustment disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and many more. If you are concerned that someone you love is dealing with any kind of mental illness, seek out professional help. Millions of people deal with these kinds of problems in the United States alone and there is help available. There is no reason to live with untreated mental illness, or for anyone to have to endure the symptoms of one, so get in touch with your doctor today and start on the road to recovery. It’s never too late to get help and live happy.