| Mental illnesses are biological brain disorders that | | | | instability and failed interpersonal relationships. People |
| many people suffer from, through no fault of their | | | | with mental illness like BPD may exhibit a wide array |
| own. They cannot be wished away or combated | | | | of strange behaviors, from self-mutilation, to |
| through will power. While there are very real stigmas | | | | preoccupation with sex, binge eating, drinking, |
| associated with these illnesses, the best way to get | | | | substance abuse, reckless driving, inappropriate |
| by is to diagnose the problem, study mental health | | | | explosive anger, an unstable self image and patterns |
| treatment options and seek social support. | | | | of anxiety or moodiness that last a few hours at a |
| One group of mental illnesses is centered on serious | | | | time. |
| depression. The World Health Organization reported | | | | BPD sufferers are thought to be on the borderline |
| that Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar is the | | | | between psychosis and neurosis, and behavior |
| leading cause of disability in the United States and | | | | therapy is traditionally used, with other cases |
| Canada. | | | | requiring medical intervention. Recent research |
| Many people wonder how to tell the difference | | | | suggests that 56% of the people diagnosed with |
| between serious mental illness and just having "the | | | | BPD can show big improvement within one year of |
| blues." The American Psychiatric Association | | | | mental health treatment. |
| characterizes clinical depression by time endured. If | | | | Schizoid Personality Disorder is fairly rare and occurs |
| "the blues" don't go away within two weeks, then | | | | in 1% of the population, but results in coldness |
| there may be a more serious underlying problem. | | | | towards others, lack of emotion, indifference to |
| Other symptoms prey upon the body and make the | | | | social norms, odd behavior, indifference to praise or |
| simplest of day-to-day tasks almost impossible. | | | | criticism and preoccupation with fantasy. The Schizoid |
| These include decreased energy and motivation, loss | | | | has no sexual drive; few close relationships and may |
| of pleasure in hobbies, social withdrawal, thoughts of | | | | feel superior to others or extremely independent. |
| death or suicide, feelings of helplessness, guilt and | | | | Some schizoids may give an outward appearance of |
| worthlessness, irritability, insomnia, loss of appetite | | | | giving and receiving, but may in fact give or receive |
| and persistent emptiness. | | | | very little because they are merely "playing a part." |
| It is believed that most depression is caused by the | | | | Schizoids are an interesting breed of people with |
| lack of naturally-occurring monoamines like serotonin, | | | | mental illness because they seldom care to resolve it |
| norephinephrine and dopamine. Antidepressants can | | | | and feel quite comfortable in their own dueling |
| help stimulate production of monoamines and | | | | loneliness and superiority. However, long term mental |
| psychotherapy can further prevent relapses. | | | | health treatment can be done through therapy, which |
| Another group of mental illnesses are the personality | | | | involves adopting a whole new way of thinking. |
| disorders. These involve ongoing patterns of | | | | The road to recovery starts with admitting that you |
| thoughts and actions and create social impairment for | | | | may have a problem. Once diagnosed, there are a |
| the sufferer. For example, the person with Avoidant | | | | variety of books you can read, medications you can |
| Personality Disorder (APD) withdraws from social | | | | take or mental health association professionals with |
| contact and has an intense fear of inadequacy and | | | | whom you can discuss your illness. You may not be |
| being disliked. | | | | able to "wish away" mental illnesses, but you can |
| There are extreme fears of being rejected or of | | | | certainly understand more about them, treat the |
| being in social situations, making it much like a chronic | | | | symptoms and work through your innermost fears |
| phobia or panic disorder at times. In fact, research | | | | and unhappiness. |
| suggests that approximately 50% of the people who | | | | A free audio gift awaits you at our portal site, where |
| have agoraphobia (fear of open spaces, public | | | | you can enrich your knowldege further about mental |
| settings) also suffer from APD. | | | | illnesses. Your comment is much appreciated at our |
| Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is one of those | | | | mental illness blog. |
| mental illnesses that leads to a pervasive pattern of | | | | |