Post by Trev Williams on Mar 3, 2008 16:45:31 GMT -1
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS…
Mental illness is very common. About one in four people in Britain has this diagnosis, but there is a great deal of controversy about what it is, what causes it, and how people can be helped to recover. People with a mental illness can experience problems in the way they think, feel or behave. This can significantly affect their relationships, their work, and their quality of life. Having a mental illness is difficult, not only for the person concerned, but also for the family and friends.
Mental illnesses are some of the least understood conditions in society. Because of this, many people face prejudice and discrimination in their everyday lives. However, unlike the images often found in books, on television and in films, most people can lead productive and fulfilling lives with appropriate treatment and support. For some people, drugs and other medical treatments are helpful, but for other they are not. Medical treatment may only be a part of what helps recovery, and not necessarily the main part. It’s important to remember that having a mental illness is not someone’s fault, it’s not a sign of weakness, and it’s not something to be ashamed of.
Depression lowers your mood, and can make you feel hopeless, worthless, unmotivated and exhausted. It can affect sleep, appetite and self-esteem, and interfere with daily activities. It may affect your physical health. This may set off a vicious circle because the worse you feel, the more depressed you are likely to get. Depression often goes hand in hand with anxiety.
Anxiety can mean constant and unrealistic worry about any aspect of daily life. You feel restless and have problems sleeping. You may also suffer from physical symptoms. You heart may beat faster, your stomach may be upset, your muscles may tense up and you may feel shaky. Anxiety also feeds on itself. Someone who is highly anxious may develop other related problems, such as panic attacks, a phobia or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Panic attacks are sudden, unexpected bouts of intense terror. You may find it hard to breath, and feel your heart beating hard in your chest. You may have a choking sensation and a pain in the chest, begin to tremble or feel faint. It’s easy to mistake these for the signs of a heart attack, or other serious problem. Panic attacks can occur at any time, and this is what distinguishes them from a natural response to real danger.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder makes a person feel they have no control over certain thoughts or ideas that are highly disturbing to them, but which seem to force themselves into consciousness. These thoughts, or obsessions, create unbearable anxiety, which can only be relived by performing a particular ritual to neutralise them. This could be something like repeatedly opening and closing a door, washing your hands, or counting.
A Phobia is an unreasonable fear of a particular situation or object. It may cause major disruption to life because it imposes such restrictions on the way people live. Agoraphobia can cause such paralyzing fear that a person may remain isolated in their own home, afraid to go out. Other common phobias include fear or animals, heights, flying and enclosed spaces.
Manic depression (bipolar disorder) is a mood disorder. During manic episodes people tend to be hyperactive, uninhibited, reckless, full of grandiose schemes and scattered ideas. At other times, they may go through long periods of being very depressed. Not everyone experiences both these extremes.
Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating of all mental illnesses and can severely interfere with someone’s ability to perform everyday tasks and the activities of daily life. Symptoms may include hearing voices and seeing things that other people can’t. Someone with these problems may become confused and withdrawn.
There are many causes of mental illness. Difficult family background. Hidden feelings. Stressful life events. Biochemistry. Genes.
Improving mental illness can be done in various ways. Relaxation. Physical activity. Learning to assert yourself. Setting goals. Expressing feelings. Facing up to problems. Alternative and complementary therapies. Finding someone to talk to.
For more information about Oxfordshire Mind services in your area please telephone 01865 511702, email info@oxfordshire-mind.org.uk or visit www.oxfordshire-mind.org.uk
Mental illness is very common. About one in four people in Britain has this diagnosis, but there is a great deal of controversy about what it is, what causes it, and how people can be helped to recover. People with a mental illness can experience problems in the way they think, feel or behave. This can significantly affect their relationships, their work, and their quality of life. Having a mental illness is difficult, not only for the person concerned, but also for the family and friends.
Mental illnesses are some of the least understood conditions in society. Because of this, many people face prejudice and discrimination in their everyday lives. However, unlike the images often found in books, on television and in films, most people can lead productive and fulfilling lives with appropriate treatment and support. For some people, drugs and other medical treatments are helpful, but for other they are not. Medical treatment may only be a part of what helps recovery, and not necessarily the main part. It’s important to remember that having a mental illness is not someone’s fault, it’s not a sign of weakness, and it’s not something to be ashamed of.
Depression lowers your mood, and can make you feel hopeless, worthless, unmotivated and exhausted. It can affect sleep, appetite and self-esteem, and interfere with daily activities. It may affect your physical health. This may set off a vicious circle because the worse you feel, the more depressed you are likely to get. Depression often goes hand in hand with anxiety.
Anxiety can mean constant and unrealistic worry about any aspect of daily life. You feel restless and have problems sleeping. You may also suffer from physical symptoms. You heart may beat faster, your stomach may be upset, your muscles may tense up and you may feel shaky. Anxiety also feeds on itself. Someone who is highly anxious may develop other related problems, such as panic attacks, a phobia or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Panic attacks are sudden, unexpected bouts of intense terror. You may find it hard to breath, and feel your heart beating hard in your chest. You may have a choking sensation and a pain in the chest, begin to tremble or feel faint. It’s easy to mistake these for the signs of a heart attack, or other serious problem. Panic attacks can occur at any time, and this is what distinguishes them from a natural response to real danger.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder makes a person feel they have no control over certain thoughts or ideas that are highly disturbing to them, but which seem to force themselves into consciousness. These thoughts, or obsessions, create unbearable anxiety, which can only be relived by performing a particular ritual to neutralise them. This could be something like repeatedly opening and closing a door, washing your hands, or counting.
A Phobia is an unreasonable fear of a particular situation or object. It may cause major disruption to life because it imposes such restrictions on the way people live. Agoraphobia can cause such paralyzing fear that a person may remain isolated in their own home, afraid to go out. Other common phobias include fear or animals, heights, flying and enclosed spaces.
Manic depression (bipolar disorder) is a mood disorder. During manic episodes people tend to be hyperactive, uninhibited, reckless, full of grandiose schemes and scattered ideas. At other times, they may go through long periods of being very depressed. Not everyone experiences both these extremes.
Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating of all mental illnesses and can severely interfere with someone’s ability to perform everyday tasks and the activities of daily life. Symptoms may include hearing voices and seeing things that other people can’t. Someone with these problems may become confused and withdrawn.
There are many causes of mental illness. Difficult family background. Hidden feelings. Stressful life events. Biochemistry. Genes.
Improving mental illness can be done in various ways. Relaxation. Physical activity. Learning to assert yourself. Setting goals. Expressing feelings. Facing up to problems. Alternative and complementary therapies. Finding someone to talk to.
For more information about Oxfordshire Mind services in your area please telephone 01865 511702, email info@oxfordshire-mind.org.uk or visit www.oxfordshire-mind.org.uk