Mental illness is a health condition that can affect your thoughts, mood, or behavior, your ability to manage daily tasks, and how you perceive the world around you.
Definition of Mental Illness in the DSM-5
Mental illness is difficult to define specifically, which often leads to misunderstandings about both the condition and those living with it. Stereotypes, mostly negative and inaccurate, blur the perception of what mental illness truly is. An important tool for defining and thus understanding mental illness is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Zihinsel Bozuklukların Tanısal ve İstatistiksel El Kitabı, Beşinci Baskıdır (DSM-5).
The official definition of mental illness according to the DSM-5 includes the following key principles:
- The distress experienced is clinically significant (meeting all diagnostic criteria for a specific disorder);
- There is impairment in functioning related to thinking, emotional regulation, and/or behavior (impaired or abnormal functioning);
- The individual experiences significant distress or disability in social, occupational, educational, or other important areas of life;
- An expected and culturally approved response to a severe stressor, such as grief, is not considered a mental disorder because it is an appropriate and temporary reaction rather than a dysfunction.
What are the symptoms of mental illness?
Different types of mental illnesses have different symptoms.
For example:
Excessive dieting can be a sign of an eating disorder, or hearing voices may indicate psychosis. Persistent feelings of hopelessness after childbirth can be a sign of postpartum depression. While people with depression may experience lasting sadness or low mood, those with anxiety often have excessive worries or fears. Sometimes, feelings of anxiety can arise without any apparent reason.
Significant changes in a person's thoughts, mood, or behavior may indicate that they have a mental illness. These changes can occur suddenly or gradually over time. A person who usually manages life well may start having difficulty performing their normal activities. These changes can cause distress for themselves or their loved ones. Such symptoms may be a sign of a mental illness.
Here are some signs of mental illness to watch for:
- Unusual or illogical thoughts
- Irrational anger or irritability
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering, inability to follow a conversation
- Hearing voices that no one else can hear
- Sleeping more or less than usual
- Increased or decreased appetite, or preoccupation with controlling food, calories, or excessive exercise
- Lack of motivation
- Withdrawing from people
- Feelings that life is not worth living or suicidal thoughts
- Obsession with topics like death or religion
- Neglecting personal hygiene or other responsibilities
- Inability to perform as usual at school or work
What causes mental illness?
Researchers are still trying to understand what causes mental illness. There is no single cause; usually, it is a complex mix of factors. These can include genetic aspects and social learning, such as how you were raised.
Here are some examples of these factors:
- Genetic Factors:Having a close family member with mental illness may increase your risk. However, if one family member has a mental illness, it does not mean others will definitely have it too.
- Drug and alcohol abuse: Can trigger episodes such as bipolar disorder or psychosis.
- Other biological factors: Some medical conditions or hormonal changes can cause mental health problems.
- Childhood environment: Negative childhood experiences can increase the risk of some mental illnesses. Examples include abuse or neglect.
- Trauma and stress: Traumatic life events or ongoing stress in adulthood can increase the risk of mental illness. Issues like social isolation, domestic violence, relationship breakdowns, financial or work problems can affect mental health. Living in a war zone or other traumatic experiences can increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Personality factors: Certain traits like perfectionism or low self-esteem may increase the risk of depression or anxiety.
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