Mental Health & Illnesses – Things You Should Know

When we are ill, we think about our body and physical health. Sometimes when we feel depressed, sad, negative, irritated or upset, we don’t think of our mind and mental health. However, there are around 300 different mental health disorders that are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5^th edition i.e. DSM-5. Today, Earth’s Wisdom wants you to think about a very important matter – mental health!

Some of the most common mental health conditions are:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

OCD causes repetitive obsessions with unreasonable and unnecessary desires to perform particular activities. In this case, though the patients know that their actions are unreasonable, they can’t stop them.

Major Depressive Disorder

MDD or clinical depression makes the patient feel extremely sad or feel hopeless and it lasts for minimum two weeks. MDD patients can also become suicidal due to their sadness.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

GAD occurs when the anxiety goes beyond routine fear such as the one felt before an interview. It makes the patient very much worried about several things even if there is nothing to worry about.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

This is a chronic kind of depression and is also called dysthymia. While depression here is not very intense, it can meddle with everyday life. Symptoms are experienced for minimum two years.

Bipolar Disorder

This is a chronic mental condition characterized by manic, energetic highs and extreme, occasionally depressive lows. It can affect the patient’s energy level as well as ability of thinking reasonably. Mood swings in this condition are very severe.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Sometimes known as social phobia, social anxiety disorder causes a severe fear of social scenarios. Patients are very nervous about being with people and imagine that they are being judged, which makes them avoid meeting new people and attending social get-togethers.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia disrupts the patient’s perception of truth and the world around them. It meddles with their relation to other people. It is serious and should be treated. Patients may experience delusions and hallucinations, and hear voices.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD is triggered after undergoing or witnessing a traumatic incidence, such as war, disaster or physical or verbal abuse.

Dealing with Mental Conditions

If left untreated, the symptoms of several mental conditions may worsen. If you see them in you or your dear ones, don’t hesitate to get psychological help. If you don’t know any psychiatrist, visit your primary healthcare provider.

Symptoms of Mental Illness

Symptoms of mental illnesses differ, but some of them are seen commonly in many conditions. For example:

• Inability to perform routine activities
• Thoughts of hurting oneself or others
• Voices heard in head
• Extreme mood swings
• Fighting and arguing
• Confusion, anger, irritability, fright, sadness and forgetfulness
• Smoking, drinking or drugging much more than before
• Feeling hopeless or lost
• Fatigue even after adequate sleep
• Distancing from favorite activities and people
• Too much sleep or insomnia
• Overeating or inadequate eating

Mental Health Exercises

Exercises that are good for your body such as swimming, jogging, walking and dancing are good for your mind too. Studies show that they can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Plus, you can also do some “exercises” for your brain, such as:

Yoga Poses: A study revealed that only two minutes of yoga poses can help increase physical energy and boost self-esteem.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This process is based on stiffening and then relaxing various muscle groups slowly. It may also be paired with other exercises like listening to relaxing music or breathing exercises.

Calming Music: A study on 60 women showed that people who listen to calming music recover sooner following stress than those who relax but don’t listen to calming music.

Power Pose: Power pose or “hands on hips” may cause a temporary reduction in social anxiety.

It’s important to understand that you can enjoy a happy life with a mental condition. Sticking to the treatment plan set by your therapist and his team, avoiding drugs and alcohol and following a healthy lifestyle can help you recover soon or can keep you away from a mental illness.

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