Understanding Mental Health Disorders

Understanding Mental Health Disorders is necessary in order to prevent, detect, and treat any mental disorders that may be a part of your life. The field of Mental Health Disorder diagnoses has evolved a lot over the past twenty years. In this article I will cover four of the most important categories. These categories are Anxiety Disorders, Mental Disorders, Substance Abuse and Dependency, and Depression. Understanding each of these categories will allow you to better care for yourself or others, and will help to keep your mind healthy at all times.


Anxiety and Panic Disorders are two of the more common mental health disorders that affect millions of people. An anxiety disorder can manifest itself in many different ways including; difficulty sleeping, restlessness, trouble concentrating, excessive worrying, fear of impending disaster, hot flashes, sweating, flushing, headaches, and a feeling of impending doom. There are other more serious symptoms that people who have an anxiety disorder may experience such as rapid heart beat, dizziness, chest pain, sweating, and upset stomach. Those suffering from an anxiety disorder may also feel a constant sensation of dread and may avoid stressful situations.

Mood Disorders include such conditions as Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Personality disorders. A mood disorder can affect a person's moods and emotions, causing them to experience euphoria, mania, and depression at the same time. Someone who suffers from a mood disorder may find themselves unable to concentrate, make poor decisions, have difficulty sleeping, experience rapid weight gain or loss, and may feel irritable and angry almost all the time. Mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder requires professional help because the medications for these disorders are rather addictive.

Substance abuse and dependency include such conditions as Drug abuse, Illegal Drugs, Drug addiction, and Alcohol dependence. When someone suffers from substance abuse or dependency, they may go through a string of addictions where they have to repeatedly use a certain drug to feel normal. The symptoms of this disorder often times are very intense and uncontrollable. Someone who is a victim of a substance abuse or dependency may feel uncontrollable anger, violent behavior, and hopelessness.

Eating disorders include conditions like Anorexia, Bulimia, and binge eating. Someone who suffers from these conditions often has very distorted and unrealistic expectations about their body. The person's weight may change drastically and they may often say they do not care about their appearance. This type of condition can cause many problems in a person's personal life as well as their social life. They may be depressed and develop self-esteem issues.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is another condition that can cause people to suffer. People who suffer with ADHD may exhibit a wide variety of symptoms including hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsiveness. Someone with ADHD may seem to be able to manage their symptoms quite well. Unfortunately there are people who are diagnosed with ADHD but never show any outward symptoms and go on to suffer with the disorder for years without being diagnosed. This can be very dangerous as untreated ADHD can lead to severe behavioral problems and eventually drug abuse and even suicide can occur.

Understanding mental health disorders requires that you learn more about the disease and what it can do to your body. People who suffer from serious mental illnesses are often victims of violence. They can have problems with self-confidence and low self esteem, which can lead to a variety of other psychological disorders. Fortunately, there are plenty of mental health services that exist to help those who suffer from mental illnesses and ensure they get the treatment they need.

When it comes to understanding mental health disorders, it is important to realize that no single explanation can explain every patient's behavior. As such, you will find that a combination of a number of factors will often play a role in someone's behavior. If you think you may be suffering from a mental illness, the best thing to do is go see a doctor for an official diagnosis. This will ensure that proper treatment is received and you receive the care you need without having to worry about the stigma of mental illness. Once you know that you are suffering from a disorder, then you can start looking for ways to treat it. Many mental health disorders respond well to treatment and you will be able to regain your life as quickly as possible.