MENTAL DISORDERS

1. Introduction
Mental illnesses refer to a wide range of mental health disorders involving
changes in emotion, thinking or behaviour (or a combination of these)
Although there is no a simple definition of mental disorder, we can define
it as “ Behavoral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or
impairment of personal functioning”.
Mental illness can have an effect on every aspect of a person life, include
thinking, feeling, mood and outlook, and such areas of external activity as
family and marital life, sexual activity, work, recreation and management of
material affairs. Most mental disorders negatively affect how individuals
feel about themselves and in their relationships.

2. Clasification

There are more than 300 mental disorders listed in the DSM-S (Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Here are some of the more
common mental disorders :

- Mood disorders (such a mayor depression or bipolar disorder)

- Psychotic disorders (such schizophrenia)
- Anxiety disorder
- Personality disorders
- Trauma – related disorders (such as post-traumatic stress disorders)
- Eating disorders
- Substance use disorders

Mood disorders

Also called afective disorders, they involve persistent feelings of sadness or

periods of feeling overly happy, or fluctuations from extreme happiness to
extreme sadness. It includes depression, bipolar disorders and cyclothimic
disorder.
Psychotic disorders

Psychotic disorders involve distorted awareness and thinking. Two of the

most common symptoms ares hallucinations (images or sounds that are not
real, such as hearing voices) and delusions, which are false fixed beliefs that
the ill person accepts as true, despite evidence to the contrary.
Schizophrenia is an example of a psychotic disorder.

Anxiety disorders

They are the most common mental disorders. Women are more likely to
develop anxiety than men, but the reason is not clear. People with anxiety
disorders may be unable to stop worrying about unimportant things, and
they can perceive situations as much worse than they actually are.
Anxiety interferes with the enjoyment of life and disrupts work,
relationships and self-perceptions. Anxiety disorder include generalized
anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and specific fobias.

Personality disorders

Personality disorders are genuine mental disorder that cause suffering. It

refers to a long-term pattern of thinking, behaviour and emotion, that
causes distress and makes it difficult to function in everyday life. Peope with
personality disorders find it hard to change their behaviour or adapt to
different situations. They may have trouble sustaining work or forming
positive relationships with others. Examples include antisocial personality
disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and paranoid personality
disorder.

Trauma related-disorders

Includes PTSD, Post-traumatic stress disorder. When someone develops

PTSD disorder, fear, anxiety and memories of trauma persist for a long
period of time and interfere with their ability to function in life. It can be a
chronic and disabling condition that has a devastating impact on
individuals, relationships and families.
Eating disorders

Eating disorder involve extreme emotions, attitudes and behaviors

involving weight and food. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge
eating disorder are the most common eating disorders.

Substance use disorders

Substance use disorder occurs when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or
drugs causes clinically and functionally significant impairment, such as
health problems, disability and failure to meet major responsabilities at
work, school or home. These substances can be alcohol, tobacco, cannabis,
stimulants, hallucinogens and opioids.

3. Causes

The causes of mental disorders are multiple, and in some cases, unknown.
It is known that facts as brain chemical disturbances and others biochemical
mechanisms, genetics, enviromental and cultural factors, brain injury,
susbtances abuse, etc, have an effect on their development.
The level of these factors impact is unknown, neither their combination to
cause the disorder

4. Treatment

- Use of psychoactive drugs to correct biochimical imbalances in the brain

or otherwise to releave depression, anxiety and other paintful emotinal
states
- Psychotherapies, which treats mental disorder by psychological means
and that involve verbal comunication between the patient and a trained
person in the context of a therapeutic interpersonal relationship between
them.
CONCLUSIONS

. Anyone can develop a mental disorder, no matter what age, sex, race or
social status.

. One person in four suffer a mental disorder throughout its life

. The world Health Organisation estimates that 20 percent of teenagers in

the Word have serious mental illness

. In 2020 depression would be the second main reason for incapacity in the
world before heart diseases.

. Depression is a common mental disorder that affects 350 millions of

people around the world, affecting women more often tan men

. Within society, there are social and labour barriers caused by the stigma
of mental illness.

. Early detecton and treatment are very important

. Mental disorders are usually non understand by society.

 TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
1. VALUE YOURSELF
Treat yourself with kindness and respect, and avoid self-criticism.

2. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY

Taking care of yourself physically can improve your mental health
(nutrition, sleep enaugh, exercice)

3. SORROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE

People with strong family or social connections are generally
healthier than those who lack a support network.

4. GIVE YOURSELF
Volunteer your time and energy to help someone else.

5. LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS

Stress is a part of life. Practice good coping skills (stress strategies),
exercise, take a nature walk, try painting as a estress reducer. Also,
remember to smile and see the humor in life.

6. QUIET YOUR MIND

Relaxation exercises can improve your state of mind

7. SET REALISTIC GOALS

Decide what you want to achieve academically, professionaly and
personally, and write down the steps you need to realiza your goals.

8. BREAK UP THE MONOTONY

Although our routines make us more efficient and enhance our
feelings of security and safety, a Little change of pace can perk up a
tedious Schedule.

9. AVOID ALCOOL AND OTHER DRUGS

Keep alcohol use to a mínimum and avoid other drugs, it only
aggravate problems.

10. GET HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT

Seeking help is a sing of strength – not a weakness