When we talk about a mental illness, we are talking about a disorder that affects the patient profoundly and that makes them change their way of being in the world: their mood, their thoughts, their way of behaving, etc. We must be clear that a mental illness is not a temporary thing or that we should take lightly: it is a serious condition that must be addressed by a professional before the situation can worsen.
In this article, we will discover the 3 most common mental illnesses in our society today. These are conditions that permanently affect people’s health and that prevent the patient from enjoying a normal life.
Common mental illness today
We must be clear that, when we talk about mental illness, we refer to a diagnosis made by an expert physician. Although it is often banalized in this area of medicine, the truth is that diagnosed depression or diagnosed anxiety are diseases that greatly affect people’s way of life.
Here we will know the 3 main mental illnesses we suffer in our society, so you know which ones are the most prone.
Depression
It is the most common mental health-related disease. It is a very serious condition that is also widespread in society, without everyone being diagnosed. And it is often believed that only a stage of sadness is being experienced when, in reality, the disease has become more profound and is affecting our daily lives. To be sad is not to be depressed, as the depressive person’s emotions are much more pessimistic, deeper, and more devastating.
The most common symptoms of depression are:
– A feeling of existential emptiness
– Constant insomnia
– Apathy for living
– Sadness.
– Disadjustments in appetite
– Fatigue and physical weakness
Anxiety
Another of the most common mental illnesses is anxiety, a condition in which the patient suffers from a severe concern or intense fear in the face of everyday situations that he must face every day. Anxiety, many times, is linked to depression, as well as panic attacks.
The most common anxiety symptoms are:
– Lack of breath
– Nervousness
– Rapid heart rate
– Sweating
– Insomnia.
– Chest pressure
– Tremors.
– Gastric problems
Eating disorders
We ended the third most widespread mental illness in our society: eating disorders. We are facing a serious condition that can endanger the health of the patient to very extreme limits; therefore, it is of vital importance to contact a health professional if someone in our environment may be experiencing this disease.
These disorders may occur in two ways:
– Anorexia. When the patient refuses to eat or drastically reduces his calorie intake.
– Bulimia. It is a disorder characterized by people who do not have a healthy relationship with food and who binge and then stick their fingers in and vomit everything they have eaten.
In any of the three cases mentioned above, it is essential to contact a health professional for the patient to be treated as soon as possible. Mental health is not a game and can be very dangerous.
Bibliography
Muñoz, A. A., & Uriarte, J. J. U. (2006). Stigma and mental illness. Mental health North, 6(26), 49-59.
Romero, A. A. (2010). A social look at the stigma of mental illness. Social work notebooks, 23, 289-300.
Girard, R. (2009). Anorexia. Marbot Editions.
Quiroz, C. Or. A., & Flores, R. G. (2007). Anxiety and depression in older adults. Psychology and health, 17(2), 291-300.