A psychological disorder is also known as mental illness or mental disorder. It is a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, which can...
A psychological disorder is also known as mental illness or mental disorder. It is a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, which can interfere strongly with one’s daily activities. Furthermore, it refers to abnormalities of the mind which are seriously affecting day-to-day function and life.
Introduction
Psychological disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, and other psychoses. Mental disorder is generally characterized by a combination of perceptions, emotions, abnormal thoughts, and behavior with others. The causes of mental disorders are often unclear and usually defines as the combination of how a person feels, thinks, and behaves. Therefore, it is an aspect of mental health and may associate with functions of the brain often in a social context. Mental or psychological disorders are treated in psychiatric hospitals and assessments are carried out by mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. The two major treatments that work for treating mental health is psychotherapy and psychiatric medication. Many more treatments can be done to treat people dealing with psychological disorders such as changing lifestyle, social interventions, peer support, and self-help.Symptoms of psychological disorders
- Anxiety
- Aggression
- Irritability
- Hallucinations
- Social withdrawal
- Mood changes affecting day to day life
- Sleep disturbance
- Weight changes
Types of psychological disorder
- Neurodevelopmental disorders: This mainly occurs in infancy or childhood.
- Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders: It causes detachment from reality. In this people experiences hallucinations and disorganized thinking.
- Bipolar and related disorders: This disorder includes people who suffer from a period of excessive excitement, activity, or energy.
- Depressive disorders: This includes the feeling of extreme sadness, worthlessness, and less interest in previously enjoyable activities.
- Anxiety disorders: Involves focusing on bad or dangerous things that can happen and worrying fearfully about them.
- Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders: People suffering from this disorder experience unwanted urges, thoughts, or images.
- Trauma and stress-related disorders: This disorder develops after having stressful or traumatic life events.
- Dissociative disorders: In this disorder sense of self-identity of a person disrupts.
- Elimination disorders: Inappropriate elimination of urine or stool by accident or on purpose.
- Sleep-wake disorders: People suffering from this disorder experience sleep disorders, nightmare disorders, and restless legs syndrome.
- Personality disorders: Personality disorder involves a lasting pattern of unhealthy behavior disrupting daily lives.
Factors increasing the risk of psychological disorders
- Family or personal history of mental illness or substance abuse: Personal history of mental illness in family or substance abuse is however responsible for increasing the risk of developing this mental disorder in one’s life.
- Childhood problems: A childhood history of abuse or neglect is strong enough to affect mental health.
- Previous mental illness/ stressful life situations: Having stressful life situations such as financial problems, unhealthy relationships with family or friends.
- Nervous damage: Brain damage causing serious traumatic brain injury to the head.
- Use of drugs: Using a high amount of recreational drugs and alcohol leads to mental illness
- Ongoing medical condition: An ongoing chronic medical condition such as diabetes can increase the risk of developing a psychological disorder.
Complications that link to the psychological disorder
- Unhappiness
- Conflicts in families
- Unhealthy relationships
- Social withdrawal
- Poverty or financial problems
- Suicidal tendencies or self-harm and hating others
Preventive measures for mental illness
- Paying attention to warning signs
- Get routine medical care, if not feeling well
- Ask for help when you need it
- Taking good care of yourself





