Mental disorders can affect an individual’s behavior, mood, or overall thoughts. Although mental disorders aren’t necessarily more common nowadays, they are more highlighted. In many instances, if a mental disorder isn’t addressed, it can lead the condition to worsen.
If you believe you or a loved one would benefit from mental health services Miami residents can work with various specialized psychiatrists who can help you. Reach out to them to receive the necessary help, guidance, and treatment.
Mental disorders can be caused by various factors such as genetics, traumatic events, other biological factors, and substance abuse, among other things. These disorders are classified into four main types depending on their symptomology:
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders do not necessarily occur due to an individual’s specific circumstances; rather, they happen randomly and inconsistently related to circumstances. Such a mental health disorder can distort an individual’s mood from a state of sadness to sudden happiness.
These alternations can occur spontaneously, drastically affecting one’s ability to function normally. Women are more predisposed to mood disorders than men, especially if they undergo traumatic experiences or take certain medications. Some examples of mental health issues under the classification of mood disorders are:
- Bipolar disorder
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Major depressive disorder, or
- Seasonal affective disorder
Mood disorders can negatively affect an individual’s interpersonal relationships, work, or social activities. However, these mental disorders can be treated through psychotherapy sessions, medications, and lifestyle changes.
Some view Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a mood disorder because this condition makes individuals have increased difficulty in regulating their emotions. However, ADHD is more of a neurodevelopmental disorder rather than a mood disorder.
Except for emotional regulations ADHD can significantly impact various aspects of an individual’s life, such as academic performance, social interactions, organizational skills, and time management. These challenges can manifest in difficulties concentrating during lectures, organizing assignments, completing tasks within specified time frames, and maintaining focus in both academic and non-academic settings. ADHD impacts on learning often becomes evident in the early stages of a person’s educational journey, emphasizing the importance of timely and appropriate interventions. Early recognition and intervention can yield positive results in mitigating the challenges associated with ADHD in learning environments. Implementing tailored strategies, such as personalized learning plans, classroom accommodations, and behavioral interventions, can provide crucial support for students with ADHD.
Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic disorders (psychosis) are generally more severe than mood disorders since they affect brain function. In such circumstances, individuals may be convinced that they hear voices, display various other paranoic behaviors or beliefs, and generally lose touch with reality.
Individuals struggle to think clearly or logically, so their social activities, work, or relationships can be drastically affected. In many instances, psychotic disorders are caused by genetic factors, social factors, or trauma. Among the most common mental health issues that are classified as psychotic disorders include the following:
- Schizophrenia
- Postpartum psychosis
- Severe depression
- Delusional disorder
In many instances, a combination of social support, psychological therapies, and medication can be an effective treatment or way to control psychotic disorders.
Anxiety Disorders
Although it’s natural to worry about many things due to our ease of access to information, excessive anxiety and worry aren’t normal. Anxiety disorders are generally caused by traumatic events such as car accidents, for example.
In such instances, victims develop a natural feeling of anxiety when facing previous traumatic experiences or situations. However, the real issue is when that anxiety gets out of control and interferes with daily functioning. Conditions classified as anxiety disorders can be anything from:
- Panic disorder, to simple anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Specific phobias
Although anxiety disorders can feel excruciatingly distressful, such mental health conditions can be mitigated and treated successfully.
Personality Disorders
Behaviors that differ from cultural expectations and cause significant distress or impairment are generally classified as personality disorders. Some well-known mental health conditions that fall within the personality disorder category include:
- Borderline personality disorder
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Narcissistic personality disorder
In many situations, mental disorders do not entirely fit into a single classification out of the four main ones mentioned above due to the nature of their complexity. In such instances, individuals can be diagnosed with various other conditions that fall into other classifications.
