Online Psychiatrist 75847

Online Psychiatrist 75847

Mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions -- disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.

Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. A mental health problem can become a mental illness if you have persistent symptoms that cause stress and interfere with your ability to function.

An illness that causes mental distress can make it difficult to live a normal life. In most cases, symptoms can be managed with a combination of medications and talk therapy (psychotherapy).

Symptoms

Depending on the condition, circumstance, and other factors, signs and symptoms of mental illness may vary. Mental illness symptoms can affect emotions, thoughts and behaviors.

Some examples of symptoms and signs include:

Feeling sad or down

Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate

Extreme guilt or excessive fears and worries

Extreme mood swings of lows and highs

Withdrawal from friends and activities

Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping

Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations

Inability to cope with daily problems or stress

Problems understanding and relating with people and situations

Problems with alcohol or drug use

Major changes in our eating habits

Sex drive changes

Excessive anger, hostility, or violence

Suicidal thinking

Sometimes symptoms of a mental health disorder appear as physical problems, such as stomach pain, back pain, headaches, or other unexplained aches and pains.

When to see a Online Psychiatrist 75847

If you have any signs or symptoms of a mental illness, see your primary care provider or mental health professional. Mental illnesses are not easy to treat. If left untreated, they can get worse and lead to serious complications.

Suicidal thoughts?

Suicidal thoughts and behavior are common with some mental illnesses. If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, get help right away:

Call 911 immediately or your nearest emergency number.

Contact your mental health professional.

Call a suicide hotline number. In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or use its webchat on suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat.

Seek help from your primary care provider.

Reach out to a friend or family member.

Reach out to a minister, spiritual leader, or another member of your faith community.

Suicidal thoughts are not something that can be treated on its own. Get help.

Supporting a loved one

Talk to your loved one if they show signs of mental illness. You may not be able to force someone to get professional care, but you can offer encouragement and support. You can help your loved one locate a qualified mental healthcare professional and schedule an appointment. You may even be able to go along to the appointment.

If your loved one has done self-harm or is considering doing so, take the person to the hospital or call for emergency help.

Causes

A variety of environmental and genetic factors are believed to cause mental illnesses.

Genetic traits. Mental illness are more common in those whose family members have a mental disorder. Your life circumstances may cause you to be more susceptible to developing a mental disorder.

Environmental exposures prior to birth. Sometimes, mental illness can be caused by prolonged exposure to stressors, inflammatory conditions or drugs, as well as to toxins, alcohol, and other drugs.

Brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals that carry signals to other parts of your brain and body. If the neural networks that contain these chemicals become impaired, it can lead to depression and other emotional disorders.

Risk factors

Some factors can increase your chances of developing a mental disorder, such as:

A history of mental illness in a blood relative, such as a parent or sibling

Stressful life situations, such as financial problems, a loved one's death or a divorce

A chronic (permanent) medical condition such as diabetes

Brain damage as a result of a serious injury (traumatic brain injury), such as a violent blow to the head

Traumatic experiences, such as military combat or assault

Consumption of alcohol and recreational drugs

An egregious childhood history of neglect or abuse

Few friends or few healthy relationships

A previous mental illness

Mental illness is very common. About 1 in 5 adults has a mental illness in any given year. Mental illness can begin at any age, from childhood through later adult years, but most cases begin earlier in life.

Mental illness can have both temporary and long-lasting effects. You also can have more than one mental health disorder at the same time. You may have both depression and a substance abuse disorder, for example.

Complications

Disability is most often caused by mental illness. Untreated mental illness can cause severe emotional, behavioral and physical health problems. Complications sometimes linked to mental illness include:

Unhappiness and decreased enjoyment of life

Family conflict

Relationship problems

Social isolation

Problems with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs

Missed work or school, or other problems related to work or school

Legal and financial problems

Homelessness and poverty

Self-harm and harm to others, including suicide or homicide

Weakened immune system, so your body has a hard time resisting infections

Heart disease and other medical conditions

Prevention

There's no sure way to prevent mental illness. However, if you have a mental illness, taking steps to control stress, increase your resilience, and boost low self-esteem may help keep your symptoms under control. These are the steps to follow:

Pay attention to warning signs. Work with your doctor or psychiatrist to learn what might trigger your symptoms. Make a plan so that you know what to do if symptoms return. Contact your doctor or therapist if you notice any changes in symptoms or how you feel. Consider involving family members or friends to watch for warning signs.

Seek routine medical care, even if you're not feeling well. There may be a new condition that you need to address or side effects from medication.

Seek help immediately. It is more difficult to treat mental health conditions if they get worse. A long-term maintenance treatment may also be helpful in preventing relapses.

Take care of yourself. Healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and adequate sleep are all important. Maintain a consistent schedule. Talk to your Online Psychiatrist 75847 if you are having trouble sleeping, or if there are questions about diet and exercise.

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