Mental health has been the talk of the town in recent years as people have become more aware of mental health issues, also known as behavioral health. At Main Street Medical Centre we have experts trained to treat trauma, depression, and anxiety. These can affect the social, emotional, and psychological well-being of a person. It alters how we people feel, behave, interact, and deal with society. Your mental condition dictates, for instance, how you handle things like stress. It is a key part of your life from the cradle to the grave.
Who gets mental health disorders?
People of any sex, age, race, or background can be afflicted with a behavioral health disorder. Women are more likely to get things like eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. On the other hand boys and men are more likely to suffer from antisocial personality disorders and substance abuse.
What is a mental health disorder?
Behavioral or mental health disorders and mental issues affect the way you think and act. They change your mood and can make it hard to have a regular life at home, work, school, and in society at large.
It is important to note that not every mental health issue is in itself a behavioral disorder.
How common are behavioral health disorders?
About 45 percent of adults in Australia will be affected by mental illness at some point in their life. Anxiety, mood disorders ( for instance depression) along with substance use disorders are the most common mental issues experienced by Australian adults. This is why at Main Street Medical Centre we believe that people should get regular checkups to make sure the stress of life is not getting to them.
Symptoms and Causes
What causes mental health disorders?
There are a host of reasons behind behavioral health disorders. These may be genetic and inherited from a parent. Also, chemical issues in the brain can cause such mental health troubles. The odds of this go up if you
- Have a neurological issue such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
- Do not get proper nutrition.
- Use alcohol or recreational drugs.
- Had a traumatic birth or were born from a high-risk pregnancy.
- Went through a traumatic life event or a history of abuse.
- Don’t have a support system of friends or family members.
- Have a family history of behavioral health trouble.
- Struggle with your religion or beliefs.
- Have a chronic medical illness such as cancer, diabetes or hypothyroidism.
- Have had a traumatic brain injury.
- Have a sleep disorder.
- Have extreme stress in your life.
Tests and Diagnosis
How are mental health disorders checked?
It’s important to have a proper diagnosis from your healthcare provider who specializes in dealing with serious mental illness. You need an accurate diagnosis to get the right treatment.
A healthcare provider will carefully review your symptoms to evaluate your mental health. Be sure to tell the Specialist mental health services:
- If there are any particular triggers that make your mental health deteriorate.
- If your mental health problems are severe (ongoing) or if they are in episodes.
- When you first noticed problems in your mental health.
There are no medical tests that can diagnose mental illnesses. However, your doctor may perform tests, like blood work or imaging exams, to rule out other issues that can affect mental health. At Main Street Medical Centre we urge patients to not wait and get an initial checkup so as to make sure the issues do not get worse with time.
What are the symptoms of a behavioral health disorder?
Mental illness can lead to a wide range of symptoms, for instance:
- Use of party drugs or alcohol.
- Staying from social situations and friends.
- Sex drive getting altered.
- Difficulty perceiving reality, including things like delusions or hallucinations.
- Too much worrying or fear.
- Fatigue or sleep problems.
- Feelings of isolation and sadness.
- Inability to gauge or figure out other people’s feelings or emotions.
- Intense anger and rage.
- Obsession with your physical look, weight, or eating habits.
- Problems focusing, learning, or completing everyday tasks.
- Rapid mood changes, going from “lows” to “highs.”
- Suicidal thoughts or self-harm.
Mental health problems in children tend to have an impact on their functioning. You might see:
- Changes in their grades at school or how they deal with other children.
- Disinterest in things or hobbies they used to enjoy.
- Too much worrying or anxiety, like the fear of going to bed.
- Frequent temper tantrums, aggression, or disobedience.
- Hyperactive behavior, including trouble concentrating or sitting still.
- Nightmares.
Management and Treatment
Can help for mental illness fix things?
There’s no way to prevent serious mental health issues. However, you can manage the early mental illness symptoms better with the help of a health care provider like Main Street Medical Centre.
How are mental health disorders fixed?
Treatments for mental health disorders might include:
- Medication: A few mental illnesses are managed well with medication, for instance, antipsychotics and antidepressants. These medicines alter the chemicals in your brain so you feel fewer symptoms. It is very important to take medication exactly as the doctor ordered. Never stop taking medication for a mental illness prior to consulting your doctor.
- Alternative therapies: Some mental health crisis situations, such as depression, might improve using alternative therapies. Things like herbal remedies, massage, acupuncture, meditation and yoga. Talk to your doctor before taking any herbal medicine or supplements. They might affect other medications.
- Brain stimulation therapies: Not all disorders get better with medication. If that’s the case, your healthcare provider might ask you to go for brain stimulation therapies. These treatments alter the way nerves and different cells in the brain process chemicals and process to stimuli. Instances include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroconvulsive therapy.
- Psychotherapy: Consulting a mental health professional can help you better handle the challenges of an illness and fix its symptoms. Psychotherapy can be in a one-on-one setting with a doctor or a group setting. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a kind of psychotherapy. It focuses on helping you change negative behaviors and thought patterns.
Outlook / Prognosis
What’s the prognosis (outlook) for people with mental health problems?
Most people with symptoms of mental illness can manage their condition. They lead full, fun lives with proper treatments. Some people will have to manage a mental illness for the rest of their lives. Others discover that their symptoms get better as they get older. Overall, mental illnesses usually would peak in young adults from 18 to 25, then diminish a lot after 50.
