Types of Mental Illnesses

There are many kinds of debilitating mental illnesses. They vary from addictions, anxiety and panic attacks, all the way being unable to function in society, such as with full blown schizophrenia. Most mental illnesses can be controlled through counseling and/or medication. Some illnesses are genetic, while others seem to develop for no apparent reason. Others are developed over a period of time, such as addictions.

Addiction is the most common type of mental illness, especially in industrialized countries. Many addictions are actually caused by initial and subsequent uses of the product or activity of the addiction. For example, nicotine in cigarettes causes the addiction to cigarettes, which is then amplified by the addiction to the activity, the actual action, of smoking.

The addiction to soda pop is caused by the caffeine in the beverage. Other drugs, such as heroine and methamphetamines, cause addiction by making the brain unable to function without those chemicals. Most addictions can now be cured with medication and counseling, though addictions are never completely conquered.

Anxiety disorders are diagnosed when a person’s response to given situations is not appropriate to the intensity of the situation. For example, panic attacks are sometimes brought on when that person is overly stressed due to a fear. When the attack causes physical problems, excessive sweating, hyperventilation, extremely raised blood rate and pressure, while the situation does not justify this response, then there is an anxiety disorder. Some examples are PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder), Social Anxiety Disorder, Claustrophobia, and any other phobia causing an excessive response.