Types of Mental Illnesses: Understanding the Conditions

Mental health is crucial for the well-being of human beings socially, emotionally, and psychologically. It is vital in all stages of life as it affects how we make choices, how we interact with people, and how we handle stress. It is important to know that having a mental illness does not mean you are mad or crazy. Many people seem normal and sane yet they might be undergoing mental illnesses without knowing. It is important to have regular therapy sessions either personal or at health facilities. Mental health issues are delicate and need to be handled by a credible psychiatrist Atlanta. In this article, we take a comprehensive look into several types of mental illnesses.

Types of mental illnesses

There are several types of mental illnesses which include anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, depressive disorders, dissociative disorders, eliminative disorders, Disruptive/Impulse-Control/ Conduct Disorders, gender dysphoria, and neurocognitive disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, paraphilic disorders, and schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia

This is a disease characterized by extreme delusional and disorganized thinking.

Paraphilic disorder

A paraphilic disorder is characterized by intense sexual interests that result in distress. They are associated with urges and behaviors that differ from normal sexual practices.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

It is a disorder characterized by intense compulsion and obsession with certain things.

Neurodevelopmental disorder

It is a disorder associated with social, academic, occupational, and personal impairment. They include autism and Attention-Deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Neurocognitive disorder

It is a disorder associated with decreased cognitive functions. They include Huntington’s disease, neurocognitive issues due to HIV infection, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Gender Dysphoria

It is a disorder associated with people being uncomfortable with their gender identity. This is common when their gender identity differs from their gender assignment at birth.

Elimination disorder

This is a disorder characterized by involuntary voiding of urine and feces at inappropriate times.

Dissociative disorder

This is associated with the disconnection of a person from his consciousness, memory, emotions, behaviors, and perception. 

Disruptive/Impulse-Control/ Conduct Disorders

It is a disorder characterized by difficulties in the self-control of behavior and emotion.

Depressive disorder

It is characterized by the presence of empty, sad, or irritable moods.

Anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorder is characterized by feelings of fear and anxiety. It is accompanied by symptoms such as rapid heartbeats, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

Signs and Symptoms of mental illness

Each disorder has its specific symptoms, but there are common symptoms associated with almost all mental illnesses. They include:

  •         Mood changes: Difficulties in expressing joy, feelings of hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, deep feelings of sadness.
  •         Withdrawal: quitting on previously enjoyed tasks, sitting, and staying inactive for long hours.
  •         Intense fear and uneasiness: excessive panicking and nervousness.
  •         Thinking difficulties: having issues with memory, thoughts, speech, and having hardships concentrating.
  •         Appetite and sleep changes: excessive eating and sleeping accompanied by noticeable weight changes.

People are ignorant when it comes to mental illnesses. The majority of people do not believe mental illness is a cause for serious alarm. Contrary to the majority opinion, mental health is an issue that should be taken seriously and with urgency.