Mental illness comes in
a variety of forms accompanied by a number of related
symptoms. Mental illnesses are some of the most misunderstood
afflictions in today's society. Too many people think of
mental illness as a "weakness." Nothing could be further from
the truth. These are true illnesses and brain diseases.
Behavioral Health Resources primarily treats the
following mental illnesses:
Anxiety
Disorder
Anxiety disorders are the most common and
treatable mental health disorders, affecting more than 19
million people a year. There is a difference between everyday
anxiety and anxiety disorders. People with anxiety disorders
feel significant tension when there is no real danger and take
extreme action to avoid the source of their anxiety. They know
their reactions aren’t always logical but cannot control them.
As with all mental health disorders, they can interfere with
everyday functioning in life and work roles.
Anxiety
disorders fall into five main categories:
Panic
Disorder
Unexpected attacks of fear - panic attacks
- and fear of having these attacks. Signs and symptoms
include: a sense of terror or doom, rapid heartbeat, sweating,
dizziness, shallow breathing, shaking. Some think they are
having a heart attack and go to the
ER.
Phobias
Irrational fears of certain
objects or situations that are disruptive to a person’s life.
Specific phobias can include fear of flying, elevators,
heights, meeting new people (social phobia), and places they
fear are hard to escape from
(agoraphobia).
Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder
Thoughts (obsessions) or practicing
rituals (compulsions) that the person cannot
control.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Six
months or more of persistent feelings of exaggerated worry and
tension that are unfounded and unrelenting. Symptoms may
include fatigue, headaches and
irritability.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD)
Delayed reaction to a traumatic event such
as war, accident or attack. Signs and symptoms include
flashbacks, nightmares and intense emotions.
Though
specific anxiety disorders differ, two general treatment
methods, therapy and medications, have proven effective. In
cognitive behavioral therapy, the person learns to replace
anxious thoughts and actions with positive, rational ones and
learns techniques of stress reduction.
Bipolar
Disorder
Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic
depression, is a mental health disorder involving extreme mood
swings. A person’s mood can swing from mania, an excessive
“high” to a deep depression, with periods of normal mood in
between. The length of each mood can vary from days to
months.
More than 2.5 million Americans have the
disorder. Studies show that 80-90% of those with bipolar
disorder have relatives with some form of depression. Bipolar
disorder can be triggered by this genetic vulnerability and
environmental factors.
Signs and symptoms of mania
include:
- Excessive energy, activity, restlessness, racing
thoughts and rapid talking
- Feel on top of the world
- Overconfident
- Easily irritated or distracted
- Decreased need for sleep
- Uncharacteristically poor judgment
- Increased sexual drive
- Abuse of drugs
Signs and symptoms of depression
include:
- A persistent sad, helpless and hopeless mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased appetite
and weight gain
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Low self esteem, feelings of worthlessness and guilt
- Agitation or irritability
- Difficulty concentrating or making decision
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Treatment is
essential for recovery and bipolar disorder is treatable with
medication in combination with therapy. Mood stabilizers and
other drugs are available to help manage the different
symptoms and newer drugs are becoming available every day.
Therapy helps with relationships and learning coping
strategies. Support groups are also an important resource for
connecting to others, for families and loved ones as well as
the person with bipolar disorder.
Clinical
Depression – It’s More Than the Blues
Clinical
depression is a serious medical illness that affects 11
million Americans each year, children as well as adults. 25%
of women and 10% of men will experience one or more episodes
of depression during their lifetimes. Complex interactions
involving brain structures and brain chemistry are connected
to a clinical depression.
Depression affects mood,
feelings and behavior. People with depression feel sad,
helpless and hopeless and don’t find much pleasure in life. A
single event, such as the loss of a loved one, loss of a job
or developing a chronic illness can bring on depression.
Factors such as family history, prolonged stress, serious
illness, medicines and abuse of alcohol and drugs may
contribute to depression.
Signs and symptoms, lasting
two weeks or longer, can include:
- A persistent sad, helpless and hopeless mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased appetite
and weight gain
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Low self esteem, feelings of worthlessness and guilt
- Agitation or irritability
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide
It is important for
persons experiencing a clinical depression to get proper
treatment. The good news about depression is that there are
effective treatments available today. Treatments include
therapy and/or medication that help you get back into
life.
Co-Occurring Disorder
A person who
has both an alcohol or drug problem and an
emotional/psychiatric problem is said to have a co-occurring
disorder. To recover fully, the person needs treatment for
both problems.
How common is a Co-Occurring
Disorder?
It is more common than you might imagine.
According to a report published by the Journal of the American
Medical Association:
Thirty-seven percent of alcohol
abusers and fifty-three percent of drug abusers also have at
least one serious mental illness. Of all people diagnosed as
mentally ill, 29 percent abuse either alcohol or
drugs.
What kind of mental or emotional problems are
seen in people with a co-occurring disorder?
The
following psychiatric problems commonly occur in tandem with
alcohol or drug dependency:
- Depressive disorders, such as depression and bipolar
disorder.
- Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety
disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and
phobias.
- Other psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and
personality disorders
Which develops first -
substance abuse or the emotional problem?
It
depends. Often the psychiatric problem develops first. In an
attempt to feel calmer, more peppy, or more cheerful, a person
with emotional symptoms may drink or use drugs; doctors call
this "self-medication." Frequent self-medication may
eventually lead to physical or psychological dependency on
alcohol or drugs. If it does, the person then suffers from not
just one problem, but two. In adolescents, however, drug or
alcohol abuse may merge and continue into adulthood, which may
contribute to the development of emotional difficulties or
psychiatric disorders.
In other cases, alcohol or drug
dependency is the primary condition. A person whose substance
abuse problem has become severe may develop symptoms of a
psychiatric disorder: perhaps episodes of depression, fits of
rage, hallucinations, or suicide attempts.
If
someone I know appears to have a substance abuse problem and
the symptoms of a psychiatric disorder, how can I
help?
Encourage the person to acknowledge the
problems and seek help for themselves. Suggest a professional
evaluation with a licensed physician, preferably at a medical
center that’s equipped to treat addiction problems and
psychiatric conditions. If the person is reluctant, do the
legwork yourself - find the facility, make the appointment,
offer to go with the person. A little encouragement may be all
it takes. If you talk to the physician first, be honest and
candid about the troubling behavior. Your input may give the
doctor valuable diagnostic clues.
There Is
Hope
As a relative or friend, you can play an
important role in encouraging a person to seek professional
diagnosis and treatment. By learning about co-occurring
disorders, you can help this person find and stick with an
effective recovery program.
The more you know about
co-occurring disorders, the more you will see how substance
abuse can go hand-in-hand with another psychiatric condition.
As with any illness, a person with a co-occurring disorder can
improve once proper care is given. By seeking out information,
you can learn to recognize the signs and symptoms and help
someone live a healthier or more fulfilling life.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia affects 2.5
million persons in the United States and knows no racial,
cultural or economic boundaries. It is a mental health
disorder that affects the way a person thinks, feels and acts.
The person may have trouble concentrating or organizing
thoughts, expresses inappropriate emotions or is unable to
express emotions at all.
Signs and Symptoms include:
- Delusions which are false beliefs
- Hallucinations which include imaginary voices that give
commands or insults
- Disordered thought or speech
- Social withdrawal
- Apathy
Medications, therapy and rehabilitation
programs (skill development) are treatment options for persons
with schizophrenia. |
