Understanding Psychology

Liberty Psychological Association

Understanding Mental Illness:

Mental illness, also known as Psychological disorders, it can refer to a many types of mental health issues and disorders that may affect ones mood, thoughts and actions. Examples of mental illness can include Eating Disorders, Anxiety Disorders , Depression, schizophrenia, and addictive behavioral issues.

There are many people in the world that could have have mental health concerns. But a Psychological and mental health concern becomes a true mental illness when there are signs and symptoms which may cause frequent issues, stress and negative affects in a person’s ability to live a normal life.

A Psychological and a mental illness can make a person’s life miserable and can cause he or she to have problems in their daily lives, such as at their profession, school or home life or in relationships. In most situations, symptoms can be managed with a combination of Psychiatric medications and Psycho-Therapy.

Possible Symptoms:

Issues, signs and symptoms of Psychological and mental illness can be different, depending on the disorder, situation, issues, complaints, circumstances and other important factors. Psychological and mental illness symptoms can affect speech, emotions, thoughts and actions.

Some examples of the issues, signs and symptoms may include:

• Unusual sadness.
• Confused thoughts and or not being able to concentrate.
• Unusual fears or worries, or excessive feelings of guilt
• Major mood ups and downs.
• Staying away from family, friends and usual activities.
• Unusual tiredness, lack of energy and or problems with sleep.
• Feelings of detachment from normal reality (delusions), paranoia, (unusual suspiciousness) or hallucinations (sensory experiences that appear real but they are made up by the person’s mind)
• Not being able to handle daily and usual problems or stressors.
• Having a hard time understanding and relating to normal situations and to other people.
• Issues with substance abuse, alcohol or drug abuse.
• Major alterations in eating habits.
• Sex drive alterations.
• Major anger, hostility or violence.
• Suicidal thoughts and attempts.

There are times that symptoms of a Psychological and mental health disorder may appear as physiological illness, such as headaches and or stomach pain, and or back pain, and or not being able to talk or walk and or other unexplained aches and pains.

When does a person need to seek professional help:

If he or she has any issues, signs or symptoms of a Psychological and mental illness, they should go and see their medical primary care specialist or a their Psychologist, Psychotherapist, and other mental health professionals. Psychological and mental illnesses might not get better on their own, and if they go untreated, a Psychological and mental illness may get much worse over time and cause serious issues and problems.

Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors:

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors maybe common with certain types of Psychological and mental illnesses. If a person is having Suicidal thoughts or they are thinking of ending their life or hurting themselves or others or they have attempted suicide, They Need To Get Help Immediately:

• By Calling 911 or their local emergency telephone number right away.
• And to call their Psychological mental health specialist.
• And to call a local suicide hotline number. If they are in the United States they can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or use its webchat on suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat.
• And or they can ask for help from their medical primary health care specialist.
• They can even contact a family member or a close friend or a loved one.
• They can even contact a religious clergy , or their spiritual minster or someone else in their religious circle.

Suicidal thoughts will not get better by them self, there is always help when a person reaches out to the appropriate people or organizations mentioned above.

When Helping a Loved One:

If someone you know or love has symptoms, signs of Psychological and mental illness, try to have an open and a honest talk with them regarding your concerns. One may not be able to get another to seek professional help, but he or she can offer support and encouragement. A person can also help another by searching for a qualified Psychologist, Therapist, or a mental health professional and help them by making an appointment for them. One may even want to go with them to their appointment.

If your loved one has done self-harm or is considering doing so, take the person to the local emergency room, hospital or call for emergency assistance.

Possible Causes:

Psychological and Mental illnesses, generally, are known to be caused by a different genetic factors and environmental issues:

• Genetic traits. Psychological and Mental illness maybe more usual in persons who have blood relatives with a mental illness. Specific genes may increase a person’s risk of getting a mental illness, and a certain life situation may bring it out.
• Environmental issues before birth. Exposure to environmental issues, stressors, inflammatory situations, being close to toxins, consumption of alcohol and or drugs while the baby is in the womb may sometimes be connected to mental illness.
• A person’s brain chemistry. There are Neurotransmitters that are naturally occurring brain chemicals that have signals to other parts of a person’s body and brain. When these neural networks are involved with these chemicals that could cause it to be impaired, the abilities of the nerve receptors and nerve network alters, and it can lead to emotional disorders and depression.

What are the Risk factors:

Specific risk factors may increase a person’s risk of becoming mentally ill, which can include:

• A family history of mental illness (a blood relative), such as a parent or brothers and or sisters.
• Stressful life events, such as: divorce, financial issues, and death of loved ones.
• A long lasting or chronic medical condition, such as cancer and diabetes
• Brain damage as a result of a serious injury such as traumatic brain injury, for example a violent strike to the head.
• Major traumatic experiences, such as rape, victim of a major crime or military combat.
• Use and abuse of drugs, alcohol or other mind altering substances.
• Childhood history of neglect and abuse.
• Lack of friends or few healthy relationships
• A history of mental illness.

Mental illness maybe common in about 1 out of 5 adults. Mental illness can start at any age, but in most cases it might begin early in life.

The side effects of mental illness can last for a short time or it could be long lasting. A person might have multiple mental health disorders at the same time. For example, a person may be Bipolar and have a substance use disorder as well.

Possible Complications:

Some of the research shows that mental illness could be the leading cause of disability. When a person does not get help for their mental illness it can cause major emotional, behavioral and physical health issues. Some of the complications that can possibly be linked to mental illness may include:

• Decreased enjoyment of life and sadness.
• On going family conflicts and problems.
• Relationship issues.
• Lack of friends and social isolation.
• Addiction issues with drugs, and or tobacco, and or other substances, and or alcohol.
• Missed days at school, or work, or important appointments.
• Financial and or legal problems
• Major poverty and homelessness.
• Harming one self and or harming others, including murder and or suicide.
• Low immune system, the person body might have difficulty stopping infections.
• Blood pressure issues, cardiac disease and other medical conditions.

How to Prevent:

There is no guaranteed way to stop mental illness. But, if a person who has a mental illness, takes measures to control their stress, increase their resilience and to increase ones low self-esteem may help keep your symptoms under control. A person needs to follow these steps:

• Look at the warning signs. Seek professional help and work with psychologist and or therapist and or medical doctor to understand what are the persons triggers. A person needs to make a plan so that they understand what measures to take if the symptoms returns. A person needs to follow up with their therapist, doctor or psychologist if they feel any alterations in their symptoms. One may consider asking their loved ones to look for warning signs.
• Receive on going medical care. One should get regular checkups and not to skip visits to your primary health care specialist, especially if one is not feeling good. One may have a new health issue that needs to be attended to, or they could be feeling side effects of their medications.
• Receive help when is needed. Mental health disorders just like medical problems maybe get harder to treat if one waits until issues get worst. A long-term maintenance treatment plan may help to prevent a return of symptoms.
• Good self care. Getting a good amount of sleep, staying physically active, a healthy eating habit can be important. A person needs to have a regular schedule in their life. A persons should be in contact with their primary health care specialist if they are experiencing problems with sleep and or if they have any other concerns, questions regarding their symptoms, eating habits and or physical well being.