A psychological illness is a mental health condition that affects your thoughts, feelings and actions. These conditions may cause a lot of pain and stress in your life. They can also make it hard to get along with other people and live a normal life. There is no single cause of a mental illness, but it usually happens because of a combination of things. These things can include your genes, biology and your life experiences.
Most people who have a mental illness can get better. But it’s important to find the right treatment for you. Your treatment plan will probably involve therapy and medicines.
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the mind. It is a science that has been developing for over 400 years. People with mental illness often have trouble telling other people how they feel. Psychiatrists are trained to understand these problems and help people find ways to cope with them.
Many people with mental illness take drugs to manage their symptoms. These are called antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilizers. They are also sometimes used to treat anxiety, bipolar disorder and other conditions. They work by helping to balance certain chemicals in the brain. These are called neurotransmitters. People who have a mental illness can also get support from family, friends and community groups. These groups can help them learn to cope with their condition and get back to living a full life.
The most common disorders are anxiety disorders, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These are all caused by underlying feelings of fear or worry. They can make you feel like you are not able to cope with life and can lead to other health problems.
Some of these illnesses are so severe that they require treatment in a hospital. This is because they can cause serious harm or even death if they are not treated. The hospital might offer a mixture of therapies and medications.
People can be diagnosed with a mental illness if they have symptoms that are unusual for them and have been getting worse over time. These symptoms can be distressing or embarrassing and may cause you to avoid social activities. They can also stop you from doing your job or schoolwork.
Many people who have a mental illness have other health problems as well. For example, some people who have depression also have chronic pain or an eating disorder. Some people who have anxiety also have a drug or alcohol use problem. These conditions need to be treated together.
Most of the time, people can recover from their mental health problems with different kinds of therapy and medicines. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a good way to help you deal with your symptoms and learn coping skills. You can get this kind of treatment at a community mental health centre, in a private practice or in a hospital. Medications can be taken by mouth or through injections. SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants are the most popular. They can be taken for a long time to get the best results. Benzodiazepines were once the most popular psychiatric medication, but addiction problems cut their use.