Understanding Mental Illness

WHAT ARE MENTAL ILLNESSES?

In general, they ‘re brain disorders of the brain, your body’s most important organ.

A MENTAL ILLNESS IS:

  • A health condition, much like heart disease or diabetes
  • No one’s fault-not the person’s nor the family’s

THERE ARE MANY CAUSES OF MENTAL ILLNESSES:

  • Birth trauma
  • Chemical imbalances in the brain
  • Other biological, environmental, social and cultural factors

WHY LEARN ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESSES?

Because they affect millions of people, yet most people know little about mental illnesses. People with a mental illness need understanding and support—just as people with other health conditions do.

MENTAL ILLNESSES ARE TREATABLE

With proper treatment, many people with a mental illness lead productive lives. At some point in your life, mental illness may affect you or someone you know. Learn more…

KNOW THE FACTS FROM FICTION:

FICTION: A mental illness means you’re crazy.

FACT: No. it means you have a mental disorder. Using cruel labels, such as “crazy” or ““psycho”, only causes pain and discourages people from seeking help.

FICTION: People with a mental illness can “pull themselves out of it.”

FACT: A mental illness is not caused by personal weakness—nor can it be cured by willpower- Proper treatment is needed.

FICTION: People with a mental illness will always be ill.

FACT: For some people, a mental illness may be a lifelong condition, like diabetes. But as with diabetes, proper treatment enables many people with a mental illness to lead fulfilling lives.

FICTION: People with a mental illness are often violent.

FACT: People with a mental illness are much more likely to be victims of violence than its cause. With proper treatment, people with a mental illness are no more violent than the general population.

FICTION: Children don’t suffer from mental illnesses.

FACT: Millions of children are affected by depression, anxiety and other mental illness. Getting treatment is essential.

FICTION: Mental illnesses can’t affect me.

FACT: Mental illnesses can affect anyone. They strike people of all ages, races and income levels, whether or not there is a family history of mental illness.

LEARN ABOUT YOUR BRAIN

It’s one of the keys to understanding mental illnesses.

YOUR BRAIN IS YOUR BODY’S CENTER

For example, your brain controls your: BREATHING- SIGHT- HEARING-MEMORY-SPEECH-BALANCE- MOVEMENTS- EMOTIONS – HEARTBEAT – COORDINATION – THINKING

YOUR BRAIN IS MORE COMPLEX THAN ANY COMPUTER

It can do all these things and more at the same time!

YOUR BRAIN IS MADE UP OF BILLIONS OF NERVE CELLS:

Each nerve cell is connected chemically and electrically to thousands of other cells.

YOUR BRAIN SENDS MESSAGES TO YOUR BODY

In less than a second:

  1. Your brain sends an electrical message down the length of a nerve cell.
  2. The electrical message is changed into a chemical message.
  3. The chemical message is sent to another nerve cell.
  4. The nerve cell changes the chemical message back to an electrical message.
  5. Steps 2-4 are repeated until your brain’s message reaches its destination.

If any part of this system isn’t working properly, mental illnesses and other health problems can result.

SOME COMMON TYPES OF MENTAL ILLNESSES

AFFECTIVE DISORDERS- may also be called “mood disorders.” They include:

DEPRESSION- It’s more than feeling sad from time to time. Depression is a lasting feeling of great sadness or helplessness.

A PERSON WITH DEPRESSION:

  • Finds it hard to get pleasure from life
  • May sleep a lot or very little
  • Lacks energy
  • Feels worthless
  • May think a lot about death and suicide

A person with suicidal thoughts should get help right away.

BI-POLAR DISORDER: It’s also called manic-depressive illness. The person has extreme mood swings (highs and lows).

A PERSON WITH BI-POLAR DISORDER- has periods of:

  • Mania ( a lot of energy, wild behavior, racing thoughts, less need for sleep, overconfidence)
  • Normal energy and feelings
  • Depression

Each period may last days or months.

POSSIBLE CAUSES- include biological illness, a chemical imbalance in the brain, heredity, stress and other factors.

SCHIZOPHRENIA- is a group of disorders marked by unusual thoughts, actions and emotions. It is not the same as “split:” or “dual” personality.

A PERSON WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA:

  • Often can’t get along with others.
  • May be unable to take care of him or herself
  • May not make sense when talking
  • May have strong fears, hallucinations (having visions or hearing voices), obsessions and delusions (false beliefs)
  • Often withdraws from everyday life

POSSIBLE CAUSES- include a chemical or hormonal imbalance, genetic abnormalities of the brain, infections and other factors.

ANXIETY DISORDERS- are marked by severe or lasting fear or anxiety.

They include: GENERAL ANXIETY—constant tension or irritability; PANIC ATTACKS—sudden fear or terror, causing heart flutters, dizziness, sweating, etc.; PHOBIAS—strong fears about an object, place or situation (for example, fear of heights); OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER—thoughts, images or actions that are constantly repeated.

POSSIBLE CAUSES: include many factors, such as the brain’s inability to chemically control anxiety.

SOME OTHER TYPES OF MENTAL ILLNESSES:

  • Alcoholism and other drug dependencies
  • Dementia (such as Alzheimer’s disease)
  • Personality disorders (affect how people view themselves, interact with others)
  • Eating disorders (such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa)
  • Post traumatic stress disorders (severe reactions resulting from painful or horrifying experiences)
  • Psychoses and conduct disorders

LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESSES- Signs usually occur gradually and can be lasting or severe. They include:

  • Changes in daily routine (such as sleeping or eating more or unexplained physical problems)
  • Confused thinking or speech
  • Delusions
  • Denial (refusing to admit there may be a problem or to seek help)
  • Abuse of alcohol or other drugs
  • Lasting depression
  • Hallucinations
  • Inability to cope with daily activities
  • Mood swings
  • Excessive fears, worries or anxiety
  • Strong feelings of anger
  • Suicidal thoughts or threats
  • Withdrawal from family life friends and usual activities

These signs may indicate other physical problems besides mental illness. If warning signs are lasting or severe, seek professional help.

MENTAL ILLNESSES ARE TREATABLE!

Treatment methods usually include a combination of:

Psychotherapy- this includes individual, family and group therapy.

Psychotherapy can help people:

  • Understand the illness
  • Learn how to deal with any problems the illness causes
  • Make positive changes in their lives.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one effective kind of psychotherapy. It helps people learn new ways of thinking and behaving.

Medication- can help correct chemical imbalances. This enables many people to enjoy relief from or reduction of symptoms. Ask your health-care provider about all risks and benefits.

Electroconvulsive Therapy- this may be part of a treatment plan for people who are severely depressed.

To ensure proper treatment, have a professional diagnosis and a medical checkup.

SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Do most people with mental illnesses have to be hospitalized?

NO- Most people with mental illnesses are treated as outpatients. However, for some, hospitalization is an effective part of a treatment plan.

What if someone I know has a mental illness?

Spend time with the person, and maintain your relationship. Let the person know that he or she can count on your love and support. Advise the person to seek professional help.

What can I do in my community to help?

Be a volunteer—support educational programs, fund-raising efforts, etc. Also, help remove the stigma from mental illness by not using labels such as “crazy.” Replace ridicule with compassion.

HELP IS AVAIILABLE!

If someone you know has signs of a mental illness, or if you’d like more information, contact:

  • Your healthcare provider, for referrals to psychiatrists, psychologists, etc.
  • Community mental health centers and mental health boards
  • Psychiatric hospitals or clinics
  • Crisis hotlines
  • Local branches of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association

  • Psychiatric departments at universities and colleges.

  • State or local chapters of mental health associations, such as:

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill at 1-800-950-NAMI
(1-800 950-6264)

The National Mental Health Association at 1- 800-969-NMHA
(1-800-969-6642)

The National Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance at
(1-800-826-3632)

A MENTAL ILLNESS IS A TREATABLE CONDITION

  1. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BRAIN AND MENTAL ILLNESSES. REMEMBER, A MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT ONE’S FAULT.
  2. KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS
  3. GET PROFESSIONAL HELP IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS IT.

HELP TEACH OTHERS THE FACTS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESSES.

From NAMI-New York State brochure, “Understanding Mental Illness”

 

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