Mental Health Disorders

Mental disorder is an anomaly or psychological trait portrayed in the behavior of an individual. The behavior of such a person is often abnormal from the usual culture, showing signs of distress and disability. Mental illnesses are defined by an array of factors, for instance, how a person acts, thinks, perceives or feels. These factors are associated with the functioning of the brain and the nervous system. Dealing with mental health and disorders has received different views over the years and outstanding solutions are coming up to try repairing the disorders. It is evident from the world health organization (WHO) that about one-third of people in most countries are diagnosed with differing mental conditions (Thompson et al., 2000).

The disorders come in different categories, and they affect different facets of human personality and behavior. For instance, the anxiety disorder interferes with the normal functioning of a person because of fear or anxiety. This type includes disorders like panic and post- traumatic stress disorders, phobia and agoraphobia. Mood disorder entails serious forms of melancholia, sustained sadness and despair. Bipolar disorder or manic depression is a pressured or high mood state that is known to many as hypomania. The condition in most cases alternates with depressed or normal states. Mental disorders can affect the language use, and perception of a person, in this context one is considered to be hallucinating or delusional. The disorders affecting the perception can either be delusional disorder or schizophrenia. Personality disorders influence the vital characteristics of an individual that relate to the thoughts and behaviors. Eating disorders include inappropriate concerns in food and weight matters. Such disorders include nervosa, binge eating disorders and anorexia (Thompson et al., 2000). Sleeping disorders like insomnia is common among humans and involves the disruption of patterns of sleep.

A variety of factors cause these conditions, and in some instances they are unclear hence hard to determine. The disorders are brought about by a complex combination of psychological, environmental and genetic factors. Developmental and genetic vulnerabilities can cause mental disorders particularly if stress is part of an individual’s life. Variations in the genetic make-up of an individual can contribute in the development of the disorders. Environmental factors and incidences surrounding pregnancy, birth and development of a child are also associated with such disorders. Traumatic injuries or accidents and certain viral infections have been linked to development of certain mental conditions. Socially, mental disorders can be caused by activities that depress and stress the mentality of an individual. For example, neglect, abuse, general stress due to problems at home or school and bullying by other people.

There is no appropriate test or examination for definite indication of mental illness. Therefore, diagnosis by mental health care practitioners and specialists entail gathering comprehensive mental health, background and family information. Psychotherapy or talk therapy is often the initial stage of helping a mentally disturbed person (Thompson et al., 2000). Some of the psychotherapies useful in such conditions include, but not limited to cognitive therapy interpersonal therapy family focused therapy, psycho- education and social rhythm therapy. Medications are significant in the treatment of mental illnesses, and when under prescriptions, the patient should not be disrupted by anything. Medications are substantial when the symptoms are severe and do not respond to therapy adequately. Mental disorders can also be prevented through proper association with the society and the environment around one. For pregnant mothers, certain practices and foods should be avoided to allow for proper development of the fetus. Mentally disturbed persons are often at risk for numerous challenges; however, the risks can be considerably minimized using timely treatments and therapies.

Mentally sick patients are often challenged doubly.  First, they suffer and struggle with the disability and symptoms of the mental disease and secondly they face the stereotypes and prejudice resulting from the societal misconception of mental disorders. Such people are denied the chance to define and live a quality life. Getting good lives with safe jobs and housing, satisfying health care seem to be difficult. The effects of stigma on the mentally disturbed individuals can be tremendous and can impact on them negatively making the condition even worse. Public stigma from the people surrounding the mentally ill person is dangerous as it gives one the mentality of no importance. This stigma can lead to self- stigmatization where the patient turns against him or herself (Thompson et al., 2000). However, the stigma received by the sick are understood in terms of prejudice, discrimination and stereotyping.

Mental disorder affects the surrounding of an individual, for instance, the family, friends, work and school activities. Family members of a mentally sick person may at first deny the sick individual. At the acute phase of the illness, the family is always alarmed by the problem, but afterwards relief fills the home. Denial is the initial feeling families express at the dawn of mental disability. They do not believe that their loved one is sick and may not return to normalcy any time soon.  The family is also stigmatized by the disorder where friends and other society members prefer not to associate with the sick person or the family as a whole. People will always talk about such a family making them feel stigmatized by the situation. Frustration, anxiety and helplessness are part of the family due to the unending hope of getting rid of the disorder. If the mental illness persists, the family is bound to get exhausted and grieved.  The time, cost and resources spent on a mentally ill loved-one are numerous, and if no signs of improvements are seen, the family may give up. The disorder requires personal time and resources depending on disorder being experienced. This may prove to be expensive to a family (Thompson et al., 2000).  Professional assistance should be considered to help the loved one.  Psychologists, therapists or pastors are often the principal assistants in such situations.

Mental illnesses interfere with a child’s ability to function in school. Concentration and communication abilities are affected by the disorders, hence, the inability to participate in school activities. Adults affected by the condition seem to leave work places and never return. They are unable to concentrate on their jobs or follow instructions properly. Mental disorders are an enormous hindrance in the human life and impacts adversely in the lives of many (Thompson et al., 2000). Therefore, medication and prevention methods should be seriously considered, thus, eradicating the problems associated with mental conditions.

Working in a mental health care field is challenging, and only a strong and loving individual can do this. The field requires strong physical and mental acceptance and willingness to deal with people or children one may not understand. Commitment is also an essential aspect of consideration in this field. At times, one may feel like leaving the job, but only commitment and strong will can hold an individual back. Restraining from doing other things is a key consideration to make. Things that might be disturbing or affecting the patients should be avoided at all cost. Mentally disturbed people are seen as a special group of individuals, therefore, certain services should be offered to them depending on the disorder they have. Being keen on each and every patient is a characteristic of a good mental health care worker (Thompson et al., 2000). Giving medication on time and exposing them to environments that may help bring their mentality to normalcy is also significant.

Personally, mental illness is a condition that requires full attention of family, friends and society. Stigmatization is not the way to go, and since the condition is not contagious, it is only reasonable to help the mentally sick people the best way possible. Some of the sick people can be aggressive and rebel from help, but it is possible to try helping them in one way or another.