Defining Mental Illness

 Defining Mental Illness

Mental illness is a very common problem that affects about 50 million Americans every year. About 17 million of those are affected with a disorder that affects the brain called depression. This illness interferes with school, work and daily life. It may affect the way a person thinks, feels and interacts with others. Depression is just as real as a heart attack or cancer and left untreated will last a life time and without treatment can become very debilitating. In recent years, great strides have been made in helping people with depression and now 80 percent can be helped by medications, meditations, psychotherapy and other means. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of persons seek help for their depression.

Types of Depressions – 4 Major Types

-Major Depression (Unipolar Depression): Most severe type of depression characterized by sad or empty mood, loss of interest in once pleasurable activities. This kind can occur once, twice or three times in a life time.

-Bilpolar Depressive Illness (Manic Depression): This type involves a mixture of cycles of depression with inappropriate euphoria, known as mania. These cycles can last days to weeks. The cycles can be rapid but more often are gradual.

-Dysthymia – A less severe type of depression. It involves long-term, chronic symptoms that resemble those of Major Depression but are not fully disabling, but impede normal functioning. Persons with Dysthymia can also experience episodes of Major Depression, known as Double Depression.

-Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): In this disorder, the symptoms occur in the winter. It is characterized by decreased energy, increased need for sleep and carbohydrate cravings. Many person with SAD are helped by psychotherapy and exposure to morning bright light.

Symptoms of Depression

-         Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood

-     Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism

      -     Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness

      -     Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities

      -     Insomnia, early morning awakening, or oversleeping

      -     Weight loss or weight gain

      -     Decreased energy, fatigue        

      -     Thoughts of suicide, or suicide attempts

      -     Restlessness, irritability

      -     Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

      -     Persistent physical symptoms that don’t respond to medical treatment, such as

             headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain.

Symptoms of Mania

    -   Inappropriate elations

    -   Inappropriate irritability

    -   Severe insomnia

    -   Grandiose notions

    -   Increased talking

    -   Disconnected and racing thoughts

    -   Increased sexual desire

    -   Markedly increased energy

    -   Poor judgment

    -   Inappropriate social behavior

If you find that you see yourself or someone you know in some of these symptoms, be sure to be a friend and listen, or if it is yourself, get some help. Talk to someone, preferably a therapist. Don’t try to be a therapist to someone else, though. You are not trained. But you can be a friend and listen. Don’t judge and say, “Oh, that doesn’t sound so awful” and things like that. What is awful to them may not seem so awful to you. It may be so awful that they could feel like committing suicide, so be very careful. Listen carefully and encourage them to speak to a professional.  Let them know that you are interested in them, that you care about them, that you will help them.

If you find yourself in this list somewhere, find a therapist and ask for help. Don’t suffer alone. You can’t fix yourself.  Reach out to someone you trust. Don’t be afraid to tell someone what is going on with you. That may be the hardest part; being vulnerable. It may be the biggest step you take. But it will be the most important step you ever take too. Ask for help. You are not alone. Millions of others are going through the same thing as you are and had to make that first step as well.  I did. I know how hard it is. But now I am stable and hopefully through the worst of it. I may have a Major Episode from time to time, I don’t know. But for now, I am stable and I have my meds and I am calm. You can be too if you will only ask for help. Reach out to someone. Reach out to me. I will be glad to message with you. Just message me. I will help you get started on the road to recovery.

From one who has been there and back again, may you find this information helpful for yourself or someone else and may you have A great Cup of Jo today. Be HappyJ

Reference: Sad, Angry, Lonely and Scared: The Masks of Depression  ISBN 1-55548-409-3