In our society, when we hear the word 'mental illness', many people are afraid and don't want to talk about it. But in reality, mental illnesses can be a part of our lives, just like a cold or diabetes. These are not weaknesses, but treatable health conditions. If we understand them correctly , we can help ourselves and our loved ones. Okay, so let's look at what these mental illnesses are and what are their main types.
Common types of mental illnesses
Although there are many mental illnesses, there are a few types that are most common among us. It is very important to be aware of these. Let's understand each of these types simply from the table below.
| Disorder Category | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Anxiety Disorders | This is not just a fear. It is an excessive fear, a feeling of panic, even about something ordinary. It comes with physical symptoms such as a fast heart rate and sweating. If this fear cannot be controlled, if it interferes with daily activities, it is a medical condition. (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) , (Panic Disorder) , and (Social Anxiety Disorder) are the main types related to this . |
| Mood Disorders | This is also called (Affective Disorders) . What happens in this is that there are periods of continuous sadness or extreme happiness, or this extreme happiness and extreme sadness alternate. Depression, which we have all heard of, and (Bipolar Disorder) are the main diseases in this category. |
| Psychotic Disorders | This is a distortion of reality and thoughts. There are two main characteristics. One is seeing or hearing things that are not really there (we call these hallucinations) . The other is false beliefs that cannot be changed, no matter how much evidence there is (delusions) . Schizophrenia is a good example of this. |
| Eating Disorders | These are extreme, abnormal feelings, attitudes, and behaviors about food and body weight. (Anorexia Nervosa) (not eating for fear of gaining weight), (Bulimia Nervosa) (eating a lot of food and then forcing yourself to vomit), and (Binge Eating Disorder) (eating too much without control) are the most common types. |
| Impulse Control & Addiction | The inability to control the impulse to do things that could be harmful to oneself or others. For example, the urge to set fires (pyromania) , the uncontrollable urge to steal (kleptomania) , and gambling addiction. Addiction to alcohol and drugs also fall into this category. |
| Personality Disorders | These people have personality traits that are very different from the normal patterns of society, rigid and inflexible . This makes them as well as others distressed. Serious problems arise at work and in social relationships. (Antisocial Personality Disorder) and (Paranoid Personality Disorder) are a few examples. |
| Unwanted thoughts and actions (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - OCD) | They have obsessive thoughts that are constantly bothering them and causing them to feel anxious. They do certain things over and over again to get rid of that fear (compulsions) . For example, they wash their hands frequently because of an abnormal fear of germs. They may check the door ten times to make sure it is locked. |
| Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | This is a condition that occurs after a major traumatic event. It can occur after something like a serious accident, a natural disaster, sexual assault, or the sudden death of a loved one. Symptoms include frequent, frightening memories of the event, nightmares, and loss of feelings. |
Remember, none of these diseases are something that someone intentionally causes. These are medically explainable conditions that result from changes in brain chemistry.
Other relatively rare mental illnesses
In addition to the types mentioned above, there are several other mental health conditions.
Stress Response Syndromes
This occurs after a stressful event, such as a divorce, job loss, or serious illness. These are behavioral or psychological symptoms that arise as a result of the inability to cope with the event. This condition usually disappears within 6 months of the stressful event.
Dissociative Disorders
This is a condition where a person's memory, consciousness, and identity are severely disrupted. They may even be confused about who they are and where they are. This is often associated with severe traumatic events. This is also what was previously called "Multiple Personality Disorder".
Factitious Disorders
This is a slightly different situation. Here, someone intentionally pretends to have physical or mental symptoms . They do so because they need sympathy and attention as a patient.
Somatic Symptom Disorders
This is when a person actually experiences pain or other physical symptoms, even though medical tests cannot find any physical cause. This means that the pain is not fake, but the cause may be psychological stress.
Tic Disorders
This is a condition in which you cannot control sudden, repetitive body movements or vocalizations. These are called ``tics.' ' Tourette's Syndrome is a well-known disorder of this kind.
In addition to all of this, brain-related conditions like dementia and Alzheimer 's disease are sometimes classified as mental illnesses.
If you or someone you know has these symptoms, never be ashamed or afraid. It is like a physical illness. The best thing to do is to see a qualified doctor or psychiatrist as soon as possible. With the right treatment and counseling, many of these conditions can be successfully managed and you can live a happy life.
Take-Home Message
- Mental illness is not a weakness or something to be ashamed of. It is a real health condition that can be treated .
- Anxiety, depression, and OCD are very common in the world. You are not the only one facing this condition.
- If you or a loved one notices these symptoms, don't be afraid to talk about it openly and ask for help.
- Many mental health conditions can be successfully managed with proper medical advice and treatment. So see your doctor immediately.
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