what is mental illness?

Answer 1

Psychiatric conditions that can effect both the physical health and emotional well being of the sufferer.

Answer 2

That's a big question that can't be answered in a few sentences. Primarily a person with a mental illness is someone who has had a break with reality. It can entail anything from hearing voices, having delusions (like thinking you are some famous person or that you have some special power), being paranoid without any cause or just being totally out of control to the point where you are a danger to yourself or others. Mentally ill people most often don't know right from wrong. They are unable to provide self care and food for themselves without assistance, and trying to reason with them is pointless.

Most mental illnesses fall into a mood disorder category where the person can be anything from profoundly depressed as to render them motionless to full-blown mania complete with hallucinations and delusions. The characteristics and intensity of symptoms vary for each individual. They have periods when they are totally sane, sometimes even without medications, but if left untreated their illnesses spiral out of control.

The second most common type of mental illness is schizophrenia in which the person has a total break with reality. Again, their illness may include paranoia, hallucinations and delusions, and there are different subcategories of schizophrenia. Some patients do better than others.

Both of these usually strike people when they are young, and they are lifelong illnesses for which there is no permanent cure. They can be managed with medication and counseling or therapy. It is only in the past few years or so that an organic basis for these diseases has been found, specifically an imbalance or improper functioning of a person's neurotransmitters. A person's capacity to function in society varies from one individual to the next.

Many new medications have come about as a result of research in the last few years that are more promising than the older drugs because they work better, and the side effects are less pronounced.

There are many other psychiatric ailments that can cause problems in a person's life that are not necessarily considered mental illnesses. These usually fall under the headings of personality disorders and neuroses and may include OCD, kleptomania, phobias and the like. They are bothersome but not as debilitating as the true mental illnesses.

Anyone who has mental health issues should seek help. There is so much that can be done today. No one has to be locked up in an asylum anymore (except the criminally insane). Sometimes treatment is trial and error, but usually an effective treatment is forthcoming. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

There are all sorts of mental illnesses--some quite curable or controllable--and others, not. Many say that these are inherited, or passed on through the genes. Others say that the environment in which one was raised (caretakers and peers) plays a huge part in these illnesses.

Addictions, eating disorders, anxiety & panic, depression, bipolar, schitzophrenia, alcoholism, ADHD, OCD self-harm...the list goes on. Some say that chemical imbalances in the brain cause these, and others say that people suffering with them do not practice enough self-discipline (in some cases).

You could check out http://www.about.com, and type in mental illness in their search box in the upper right corner of that page. They have a great deal of information on a variety of mental illnesses.

Answer 4

there are different kinds of mental illnesses, but i always thought a good definition is when the brain doesnt process information correctly into our conscious mind.

just my opinion. hope this helps.

Answer 5

A number of things. Any kind of mental distress.

Answer 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_illness

this is a good source for that question.