Mental Health Disorders
Being diagnosed with a mental health disorder is scary but there is help!
Mental health disorders can be very challenging to live with and equally as challenging to treat. Mental health specialists provide a wide range of treatments and care for mental health disorders that affect everything from cognitive function to developmental abilities, moods and emotions to personal well-being. Being diagnosed with a mental health disorder can be discouraging and difficult to cope with but there is help! Understanding what your disorder means and what you can do to cope with the symptoms can help you to live more comfortably and lead a productive life without allowing the disorder to take over.
The most common mental health disorders include:
- Anxiety Disorders such as panic attacks, phobias and PTSD
- Mood Disorders such as Seasonal Affective Disorder and Depression
- Personality Disorders such as schizophrenia and OCD
- Eating Disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia
- Sexual Disorders such as Agraphobia and Sexual Abuse
- Addictions such as alcoholism or prescription drug addiction
- Cognitive Disorders such as dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease
- Developmental Disorders such as Dyslexia or ADD
- Sleep Disorders such as RLS or Insomnia
It’s important to remember that even if you are diagnosed with a mental health disorder, you are not defined by your condition. While you may have feelings of fear, guilt, grief or incompetence as a result of having been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, you should not lose hope! There are many effective treatment options available for most mental health disorders and even lifelong disorders such as schizophrenia or related conditions can be treated effectively to allow you to live a normal lifestyle.
Seeking help for a mental health disorder early on may be your saving grace! A mental health specialist can help you and your family cope with the diagnosis of a mental health disorder and find appropriate methods of treatment that can greatly improve your quality of life. Being diagnosed, although scary and potentially upsetting, is the first step to recovering from a mental health condition. If you’ve been diagnosed, you’re already on your way to a better life!
Factors that Increase Risk for Mental Health Disorders
Many different factors can be attributed to an increased risk of being diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Many of these conditions are the result of traumatic experiences, abuse or similar events that take place in life which were uncontrollable. Grief and loss can lead to mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression or PTSD. Genetics and family history can also play a key role in contributing to a mental health disorder diagnosis.
There are a number of factors which can contribute to such a diagnosis including:
- past family history (certain disorders, such as schizophrenia, are more likely in people who have a family history of the disorder)
- hormones or hormonal imbalance such as those which occur during pregnancy, after pregnancy, during puberty or in menopause
- stress including the loss of someone you love, a divorce, work or illness
- substance abuse and addiction
If you’ve been diagnosed with a mental health disorder or if you believe that you may need treatment, seek prompt professional help! You are not alone in your fight and there is help available to make your life easier. Seeking medical care and the treatment from a professional mental health specialist can make all the difference in how quickly and effectively you are able to regain control of your life and be freed from your condition.