There are so many mental disorders with different levels of brain, mood and social impairments. The field of psychiatry and neurology is constantly changing and constantly searching for new causes, understanding, treatments and cures for mental illness. More research is pointing to the biological component of brain chemistry, electrical wiring, brain structures and anomalies, genetic components and trauma, which give rise to the various mental illnesses that we know about today. The area is still wide open and researchers are rigorously working to find answers for the individual who suffer from the various mental illnesses and to find successful treatments to eliminate the symptoms, build better coping skills, and find cures for the various mental health illnesses and issues.

The Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM IV Revised) lists various disorders on 5 different axes ranked according to severity. There are many types of disorders, which will require different treatments. Among these mental illnesses we have such disorders as Tourette.s Syndrome, Schizophrenia, seizure disorders, anxiety disorders, depression disorders, Alzheimer.s Disease, and many other brain disorders.

Anxiety and panic disorders, Schizophrenia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Major Depression are among the most serious conditions which impair the everyday life of sufferers and disrupt daily functioning for both themselves and those of their families. Much needed research is still essential in these areas to get a better understanding of what is going on in the brain and why.

Some mental disorders are treated with more compassion by the general public than others. The general population can accept a senior with Alzheimer.s more readily than a young person experiencing bipolar disorder, or major depression. There is much concern that the general public is not taking mental illness seriously or is feeling that only certain types of individuals have mental illness and that is simply not true. Mental illness can affect anyone at any time. The following is a small list of the most misunderstood mental illnesses and their treatments.

Affective Disorders

Affective disorders pertain to mental disorders, which causes mood (affect) imbalances. Since they affect a person.s mood they are often misunderstood and not considered a real mental illness by many people. However, it is not that simple as the public would have it, people with serious mood disorders cannot will themselves into a good mood, or stop being in an anxious mood or bad mood just because society expects them to. One of these disorders is Bipolar Disorder formerly known as Manic-Depressive illness. The person will go from very high periods of elation and zest for life to very low moods and severe depression. The disease is very crippling because a sufferer pretty much goes through a yoyo syndrome, with ups where they can take on the world to downs where they barely can get out of bed.

Major depression on the other hand, is unipolar meaning the sufferer only experiences the low moods of depression, there are no highs, rather days of constant lows which are so debilitating that some people loss all hope and resort to suicide. There are different types of depression and some are not as debilitating and do not require medication. Talking therapy will work well with these patients who do not require medication. It is estimated that 80 percent of depression can be cured, the other 20 percent is left to the most severe types.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder where the sufferers are out of touch with reality. There will days when they are psychotic and there will be days when they are lucid. Schizophrenia is caused by a chemical imbalance of the brain. People with this mental illness can suffer from hallucinations and delusions and they cannot distinguish between what is real and what is not. They may also suffer from catatonia where they become totally immobile for days on end without moving as much as an eye. About one third of people experiencing schizophrenia will recover while others may have recurring symptoms all their lives. These patients require medication to try to regulate the brain chemistry. Cognitive therapy is somewhat affective for at least a high functioning individual suffering from schizophrenia.

Anxiety Disorders

These disorders are all about fears and worries, being anxious all the time and many of these disorders are very debilitating. Among this group of disorders are panic disorders, phobias, posttraumatic stress syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Many of the symptoms of anxiety will be physical symptoms such as sweating, rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness and more. Treatments include both medication and cognitive behavior therapy.

Dementias

There are various forms of dementia from senility to Alzheimer.s disease. Patients suffer from cognitive impairments and personality changes. Loss of nerves cells, fatty plaques in neurons, and brain atrophy as well as genetic factors and even AIDS has been linked to these diseases. Treatment is usually in the form of antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs but there is no known cure for these diseases.

See also: Mental Illness

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