Understanding and Accepting Mental Illness

There are many forms of mental illnesses now days and understanding them a little will better help prepare you if or when any cross into your life. 

It’s a difficult thing when one day you wake up and realize that you’re loved one has a mental illness. In fact, that in itself can be debilitating for most. Learning about their illness can not only help them but you as well. It’ll make it easier for you to accept once you learn the symptoms and you’ll understand it’s something out of their hands that they didn’t ask to have. But it can be managed and controlled with the proper guidance and support. 

The following are only a few mental illnesses with a very brief definition or description of itself. This is intended for a beginning place to learn but the real work will be going deeper to find out and learn more. Then becoming the support for your loved one, who desperately needs one.  

Clinical depression is a disorder where the person loses interest in activities and has a depressed mood, which creates an impairment in day-to-day life. 

This could possibly be caused by distress causing changes in the brain function including altered activity of certain neural circuits within the brain. 

Anxiety disorder is when the person feels worry, anxiety or fear so great that it interferes with their activities on a daily basis. It could range from panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Bipolar disorder is well known for its mood swing episodes from depressive lows to manic highs and back again. Although the cause is unclear, genetics, environment and brain chemistry can have a role in this disorder. 

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder often begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood. This particular chronic condition may cause relationship issues, low self-esteem, and difficulty with school or work. 

Schizophrenia is a disorder affecting the person’s ability to think, feel, and behave clearly. The exact cause isn’t known other than having a combination of genetics, environment, and altered brain chemistry and structure is a factor. 

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a combination of excessive thoughts, which is the obsessive part leading to repetitive behaviors, which is then the compulsive side. This disorder is characterized by thoughts that are unreasonable and obsessions like fears, leading to compulsive behaviors. 

Autism is a disorder that impacts the nervous system creating serious developmental disorders such as the ability to communicate and interact. 

Post-traumatic stress disorder is when the person finds it difficult to recover after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event in their life. This condition can last from months up to years and have triggers which can bring memories of the trauma back at any given time. The triggered memories are accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions. 

These short and brief descriptions can be used for a guide or at least to give a little understanding around a few of the mental illnesses listed. Just know that there are many other mental health issues out there and it’s always wise to seek out a qualified medical doctor or/and therapist for help, guidance and care plans. 

If nothing else, hopefully this will help you have more patience and compassion with yourself and others. The mind is a wondrous power, so handle it with gentle care. After all, the way it’s cared for can determine your future both positively and negatively. 

~Best of Health & Positive Energy, ~ Healing Feather Wellness ~ “Balancing Body, Mind & Spirit” ~ ©2021