What is mental illness and what causes it? What are its main signs and symptoms?
As discussed in the mental health section, our experiences change the brain due to its plasticity. Chronic distress, thus, causes neurochemical changes in the brain leading to mental illness. Some people may also be more susceptible to mental health problems due to a genetic predisposition. But since all of us can experience adverse life events, we all have the potential to develop mental health problems. In addition to the symptoms of chronic distress, mental illness may have the following symptoms:
1.) Hallucinations; seeing, hearing, smelling or feeling something that isn’t there.
2.) Delusions; fixed but firm beliefs in something that is not true.
3.) Intense paranoia; lack of trust and feeling that everyone is out to harm the sufferer.
4.) Strange behaviour; the sufferer may behave erratically
5.) Suicidality; thoughts or actions that are aimed towards ending one’s life.
So how can you tell whether someone is developing chronic distress or mental illness? You can look at 4 key signs:
1.) Difficulty controlling emotions; appearing very sad or having outbursts of anger.
2.) Deteriorating performance at work or school
3.) Relationships being adversely affected
4.) Physical health getting worse
To learn more about the different treatment options for mental illness click next. To learn more about dealing with mental illness visit the manage mental illness section. To learn more about looking after people with mental illness visit the caring for sufferers section.