While there have been many advances made in the mental health field over the last quarter century, with mental health professionals acknowledging more and more mental illnesses and how they develop, one aspect of mental health is still not widely discussed. This is the actual impact that physical illness has on one’s mental health.
In fact, few people who are not in the mental health field even consider the part that physical illness plays when it comes to mental health. For example, when you get a cold, you may be a little irritable, and most of us would attribute the fact that we don’t feel good to that irritability.
However, it goes a little deeper than that. When we don’t feel good – even if feeling bad comes from a simple cold – we also tend to feel a little ‘blue.’ Things that would not otherwise be a big deal in our lives become a little larger. We do not respond or react as we normally would.
Fortunately, the cold does not last long, and we get back to being ‘normal.’ But what if that cold turned into a long term illness, or even a fatal illness? How does that affect our mental health? It affects every area of your life, including personal relationships, social interactions, work, and even religious beliefs and spirituality. With such illnesses, it isn’t even so much a question of not feeling good, in the physical sense. It is a question of not feeling good in the mental sense.
Naturally, when confronted with long-term illnesses, no matter how mild or serious they are, we experience a range of emotions, such as anger, worry, and sadness. We feel that our bodies let us down. We feel that we have no control. We may feel lonely or feel that people don’t understand what we are going through.
The biggest concerns, from a mental health standpoint, when it comes to long-term illness, are depression and anxiety. It is not at all uncommon for someone who is suffering from a long-term physical ailment to experience either of these conditions. It is, however, often overlooked and left untreated. This, of course, can be very dangerous, and as research has shown, even have a negative impact on the physical recovery process.
These days, doctors are more aware of how physical ailments affect our mental health, and they are on the lookout for signs of anxiety or depression in their patients. However, for the most part, your doctor will not be aware that a problem exists if you are not open and honest with them about your feelings and what is going on in your life.
Overall, it is perfectly fine and perfectly normal to feel a little blue when you are under the weather. But when it comes to long term illnesses, you need to be able to recognize the signs of depression and anxiety. When you see those signs, let your doctor know immediately, and seek treatment. Don’t try to ‘go it alone’ and do not assume that ‘it will pass.’
Jennifer B. Baxt, LMFT, LMHC, PA
Complete Counseling Solutions
http://www.completecounselingsolutions.com
Our mental health can vary according to our circumstances and can change across our lifetime, in the same way as our physical health does.
Mental health problems are among the most common of all health conditions, directly affecting about a quarter of the population in any one year. Depression and anxiety are the most widespread conditions.
Mental Health – Type of Dementia
Dementia is the loss of mental functions, such as thinking, memory and reasoning, that is severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily life. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that may accompany certain diseases or conditions. Symptoms may involve changes in personality, mood and behavior.
Causes of Dementia
• Vascular disorders, such as multi-infarct dementia, which is caused by multiple strokes in the brain
• Depression
• Infections of the central nervous system such as meningitis, HIV, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a quickly progressing and fatal disease that is characterized by dementia and muscle twitching and spasm
Causes of Mental Health Illness
Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming clear through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors.
Symptoms Of Mental Health Disturbance
ACTING DIFFERENT THAN USUAL. Can you link this change in behavior to something that has happened recently? Any event, such as the death of a close relative, or even something positive – like a job promotion – can trigger a troublesome emotional reaction.
BECOMES AGGRESSIVE, RUDE, AND ABUSIVE OVER MINOR INCIDENTS.
Are there remarks about groups or individuals “out to get me?” If that last remark was made in all seriousness, and blowups and violent physical behavior occur, there is a strong indication some help may be required.
The greatest symptoms which trigger mental health concerns have to do with the person’s ability to function. When they suddenly start missing a lot of work or school or losing jobs, not eating or eating too much, barely sleeping or not sleeping at all, and seem to be irritable or angry with everyone and everything, these are usually early symptoms of mental health issues. As symptoms progress the individual may experience self harm such as cutting or burning themselves and taking unnecessary risks with their safety. Any significant drastic change can be a symptom of a mental health issue
Ffailure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
Our mental health can vary according to our circumstances and can change across our lifetime, in the same way as our physical health does.
Mental health problems are among the most common of all health conditions, directly affecting about a quarter of the population in any one year. Depression and anxiety are the most widespread conditions.
Anxiety disorders – Mental Health
Anxiety disorders can take many forms. You may experience free-floating anxiety without knowing exactly why you’re feeling that way. You may suffer from sudden, intense panic attacks that strike without warning. Your anxiety may come in the form of extreme social inhibition or in unwanted obsessions and compulsions. Or you may have a phobia of an object or situation that doesn’t seem to bother other people.
Symtoms Of Anxiety Disorders
• Apprehension, uneasiness, and dread
• Impaired concentration or selective attention
• Feeling restless or on edge
Mental Health – Type of Dementia
Dementia is the loss of mental functions, such as thinking, memory and reasoning, that is severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily life. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that may accompany certain diseases or conditions. Symptoms may involve changes in personality, mood and behavior.
Causes of Dementia
• Vascular disorders, such as multi-infarct dementia, which is caused by multiple strokes in the brain
• Depression
• Infections of the central nervous system such as meningitis, HIV, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a quickly progressing and fatal disease that is characterized by dementia and muscle twitching and spasm
Causes of Mental Health Illness
Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming clear through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors.
Symptoms Of Mental Health Disturbance
ACTING DIFFERENT THAN USUAL. Can you link this change in behavior to something that has happened recently? Any event, such as the death of a close relative, or even something positive – like a job promotion – can trigger a troublesome emotional reaction.
BECOMES AGGRESSIVE, RUDE, AND ABUSIVE OVER MINOR INCIDENTS. Are there remarks about groups or individuals “out to get me?” If that last remark was made in all seriousness, and blowups and violent physical behavior occur, there is a strong indication some help may be required.
The greatest symptoms which trigger mental health concerns have to do with the person’s ability to function. When they suddenly start missing a lot of work or school or losing jobs, not eating or eating too much, barely sleeping or not sleeping at all, and seem to be irritable or angry with everyone and everything, these are usually early symptoms of mental health issues. As symptoms progress the individual may experience self harm such as cutting or burning themselves and taking unnecessary risks with their safety. Any significant drastic change can be a symptom of a mental health issue
Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest
Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
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Mental health problems can affect people at any time of life and in different ways. They can include anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, self-harm and dementia. Mental health affects every part of our daily lives. How well we feel plays a major role in our health and how we get along with others or react to events. Mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. Even though many of us don’t suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder, it is clear that some of us are mentally healthier than others. The study of the characteristics that make up mental health has been called “positive psychology.”
Positive mental health is about:
• feeling in control
• being able to make rational decisions
• being in touch with our feelings
• being able to form positive relationships
• feeling good about ourselves
• knowing how to look after ourselves
We all have our ups and downs, but if the downs start to take over it is a sign that we need to take some action.
Steps To Read Mind:
1. Get acquainted with the person whose mind you will later claim to be reading (the subject). Look for a wedding ring or infant toys sticking out of a purse. Ask questions about jobs and pets. Later, when you repeat this information, the person may have forgotten your earlier encounter.
2. Tell the subject that you are going to try to read his or her mind and ask him or her to help you. Claim that at times the thoughts you receive are hard to distinguish from background noise, and that you may need clarification. In this way, you can make a vague guess and the subject will provide specific information yet will still be amazed at your mind-reading ability.
3. Use props. While you’re trying to think of what to say, pretend to be concentrating on a thought-focusing crystal in your hand or hold a photo of a dead relative to your head, claiming that the person assists you from “the other side.” Take your time and be dramatic.
4. Perform a cold reading. Make a general statement and study how your subject reacts. If the subject does nothing, make another statement. Repeat this process, acting as if you’re zeroing in on a specific thought until you get a reaction. If you are able to do this smoothly, your subject will forget your incorrect guesses. It helps if you are familiar with current events so you can make accurate guesses.
5. Say something obvious, such as “You’re concerned that I might learn some secret about you.” If the subject protests that the statement is obvious, insist that it is nevertheless what the subject was thinking at that moment.
6. Try shot gunning. If you’re demonstrating your mind-reading ability in front of a group of people, make a statement and look around to see who reacts. Address that person directly, claiming to have heard his or her thoughts.
7. Listen. once your subject is convinced that you’ve heard his or her thoughts, he or she will often talk extensively about things related to those thoughts. You can later repeat these things, and the subject will think you learned them through mind reading.
Mental health conditions are common in all nations of the world. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, about 26 percent of Americans aged over 18 years are diagnosed with a mental disorder every year. This equates to almost 60 million people. The NIMH has also found that about 6 percent of those, have been diagnosed with a serious mental condition, many of which may suffer from two or more mental conditions. Mental illness, has been found to be a major cause of disability amongst people, aged between 15 and 44 years in the US and Canada.
Of course, mental conditions are not confined to the adult person, as people of all ages and genders can be affected by the disorder. Many children and adolescents are diagnosed with mental health problems, and special care is needed to treat them adequately. Mental conditions that affect children are varied and may be of a temporary nature, however, specialized treatment should be sought to help reduce the chances of the disorder becoming long term. NIMH reports indicate that about 5 percent of children in North America suffer from bouts of depression. This figure increases to around 8 percent for the number of teenagers who are suffering from anxiety and depression.
Many teenagers are also affected by eating disorders, which can aggravate bouts of depression and lead to other problems such as, phobia, inhibition and learning difficulties. Teenage girls who may be suffering from anxiety or depression are susceptible to anorexia nervosa, a very serious eating disorder, which can lead to grave health concerns, even death. Mental conditions, such as these, need to be treated by mental health care professionals who can help young people to adjust to the circumstances that have brought about their disorders.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a most severe mental health condition that is more likely to affect young boys. Sufferers of ADHD need specialized professional care as well as added personal attention from their parents. A child suffering from ADHD will display little regard for authority and will engage in a range of continuous physical activities much to the detriment of his fellow students, teachers and parents. Treatment, provided by a mental health care professional, for this type of disorder, may include some form of medication.
Early diagnosis of mental health problems, is essential for the successful treatment of the conditions, and the prevention of long term effects that may result in a lasting disability.
For further information, visit: http://la-healthhunter.com/mental
Be My Friend – www.myspace.com Nutrition by Natalie The Truth about Anxiety, Stress, Fear, Anger, Mental Health & Nutrition Part 3 in series about Stress. Stress is an emotional reaction of anger or anxiety. The effects of stress on your physical health, mental health and emotional health. The symptoms of stress. Stress information. Stress management. Stress relief. Future videos will discuss stress reduction, anger management, Stress management, anxiety management. The Psychology of Anxiety …
Most people always neglect their mental healths; we are always in line and are concerned with the wounds, diseases, or the physical pain that we encounter. We neglect that aside from our physical health there is also an existing mental health that we have to watch out for.
Mental health diseases of its form are generally curable, but it will take a lot of patience and courage to continue and to ritually take the medications prescribed by the doctor though there are some health supplements that may also help. Aside from the medication that will help us cure the disease, of course factors affecting the mind and the emotions are always there lingering with us, memories that can affect and change the mental status of the person. Rehabilitation therapy is also helpful to resolve this problem and working together with the medication can be a great success.
There are basic symptoms of mental health disorders that can be seen in a person, which if neglected will just result in a serious mental health illness. One of this and the most common form is depression. All of us have experienced depression from different views in life, at the job, family, friends, things, achievements, studies, love life etc. It can be seen at every person to be depressed once at their lives, but depression longer than the usual may be a great sign for a clinical mental disorder. Depression taking minimum of 6 months and taking up to years can be a mental disorder we have to pay attention or else various factors can lead this to irreversible brain malfunction.
Taking a deep and very informative patient and mental health education is a must and is very important to all of us. Not only to know the diseases around it but also for us to know the identifiable factors that we can observe in one person. Let us always remember that whatever your creed, race, sex and nationality you are not immunized and protected against mental health illnesses. So you should be better be aware than sorry. The early the diagnosis of such diseases the good the prognosis is to be able to return to its previous mental health status.
These are such important aspects that we have to take care as with our physical health and should never be out focused and just be ignored.
Image taken on 2006-10-21 01:01:42 by vantan.