Mental Illness
How common is mental illness? Millions of people have it. Mental illness is a disease, just as arthritis and asthma are. You didn't do anything to cause your illness, and it's not your fault that you have it. There are many forms of mental illness, including serious conditions such as bipolar disorder, bipolar mania, and schizophrenia, which are discussed below.
Special chemicals in your brain (called neurotransmitters) move messages from one nerve cell to the next. Messages are thoughts, feelings, and perceptions (things you see and hear). When brain chemicals get out of balance, these messages can become jumbled. As a result, the final message you get may not make any sense. So you may feel confused or nervous or afraid.
How Do I Know If I Am Ill?
Mental illness has many faces, ranging from occasional episodes of depression to severe, chronic conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Unlike broken bones that can be seen by an x-ray, the form of mental illness someone has can be hard to diagnose. It can also be hard to know how severe their condition might be.
It is important to talk to a healthcare professional if you believe that you or a loved one may be suffering from a mental illness. In order to determine if you are ill, a doctor might ask you many questions, such as these:
Call 1-877-398-2002 Anytime To Discuss Treatment Options if you or a loved one is struggling with mental health issues.
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