Is depression a mental illness?

Today, the prevalence of mental illness is on the rise. There are different types of mental illness including anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors. So is depression a mental illness?

Mental illness or mental disorder is a range of mental health conditions that affect your mood, thinking and behavior.
There are different types of mental illness including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.
Over time, many people have mental health concerns. Mental health concerns turn into mental illnesses when persistent signs and symptoms cause chronic stress and affect your ability to work or move.
Mental illness can make you miserable and can cause problems in your daily life, like at school or work or in relationships. In most cases, symptoms can be controlled with a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

Symptoms of mental illness can vary depending on the type of disorder, circumstances, and other factors. Symptoms of mental illness can include manifestations of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
Signs and symptoms of people with psychosis include:
Feeling sad or down. Mixed thinking. Reduced ability to concentrate. Excessive fear or anxiety. Extreme guilt. Extreme mood swings at highs or lows. No interest in friends or activities. Significant fatigue, low energy. Difficulty sleeping . Detachment from reality with delusions, paranoia, or hallucinations. Inability to cope with everyday problems or feeling excessive stress. Difficulty understanding situations and people. Problems with alcohol or drug use. Big changes related to eating habits. Change sex drive. Excessive anger, hostility or violence. Thoughts of suicide. Sometimes the symptoms of a mental disorder appear as physical problems, such as stomach pain, back pain, headaches, or other unexplained aches and pains.

If you have any signs or symptoms of mental illness, see your primary care provider or mental health professional. Most mental illnesses do not improve on their own, and if left untreated, mental illness can get worse over time and cause serious problems.
Suicidal thoughts and behavior are common with certain mental illnesses. If you think you may be hurting yourself or attempting suicide, get help right away:
Call a mental health professional. Seek help from your primary care provider. Contact a close friend or loved one. Contact a pastor, leader, or other person in your faith community. Suicidal thoughts don't get better on their own, so get help.

If your loved one shows signs of mental illness, discuss your concerns openly and honestly with them. You may not be able to force someone to receive professional care, but you can encourage and support them to do so.
You can also help your loved one find a qualified mental health professional and make an appointment. You can even go with them to that appointment.
If your loved one has ever harmed himself or is thinking about doing so, take him or her to the hospital or call 911.

Mental illness is thought to be caused by many genetic and environmental factors:
Genetic characteristics: Mental illness is more likely to occur in blood relatives who also have mental illness. Certain genes can increase your risk of developing mental illness, and your life circumstances may cause it. Exposure to environmental factors before birth: Exposure to environmental stressors, inflammation, toxins, alcohol or drugs while in the womb can sometimes be associated to mental illness. Brain chemicals: Neurotransmitters are natural chemicals in the brain that carry signals to other parts of your brain and body. When this neural network is impaired, the function of nerve receptors and the nervous system changes, leading to depression and other emotional disorders. In addition to the above, there are a number of factors that can increase your risk of developing mental illness, including:
A family history of mental illness, such as a parent or sibling intestine. Stressful life situations such as financial problems, death of a loved one or divorce. Current medical conditions, especially chronic diseases such as diabetes. Brain damage due to serious trauma such as a violent blow to the head, traffic or work accidents. Traumatic experiences such as fighting or being attacked in the military. Use alcohol or drugs. History of childhood abuse or neglect. Having few friends or having few healthy relationships. A previous mental illness. Mental illness is common, with about one in five adults developing a mental illness during their lifetime. Mental illness can begin at any age, from infancy to adulthood, but most cases begin earlier in life.
The effects of mental illness can be temporary or long-lasting. You can also have more than one mental disorder at the same time. For example, you can have both depression and a substance use disorder at the same time.

Mental illness is one of the leading causes of disability. Mental illness, if left untreated, can cause serious emotional, behavioral, and physical problems. Possible complications of mental illness include:
Unhappiness and reduced ability to enjoy life. Family conflict. Difficulty in relationship. Self-isolating from society. Missing work or school, or other work or school related matters. Legal and financial issues. Poverty and homelessness. Self-harm and harm to others, including suicide or murder. A weakened immune system, so it's hard for your body to fight off infections. Heart disease or other medical conditions.

There is no sure way to prevent mental illness. However, taking steps to manage stress, increase resilience, and improve self-esteem can help manage symptoms of mental illness. Follow these steps:
Pay attention to the warning signs: Talk to your doctor or therapist to find out what might be causing your symptoms. You also need to know what to do if symptoms return. Contact your doctor if you notice any changes in your symptoms or how you feel. Consider inviting family members or friends to watch for warning signs. Routine medical care: Don't skip medical checkups or skip visits with your primary care provider, especially if you're unwell. You may have a new health problem and need treatment, or you may experience a side effect of your medication. Get help when you need it: A mental health condition can be harder to treat if you wait until symptoms get worse. Long-term maintenance treatment can also help prevent symptoms of the disease from returning. Take good care of yourself: Eating healthy, getting regular physical activity, and getting enough sleep are important. Talk to your doctor if you have trouble sleeping or if you have questions about diet and physical activity. Psychological Clinic - Times City International General Hospital is one of the leading prestigious addresses in the treatment of psychological and mental health problems. The medical team at the clinic are highly specialized, many of whom are lecturers in psychiatry at Hanoi Medical University, capable of implementing psychological tests, in-depth psychotherapy, and providing support. effective aid in the treatment of diseases.

Reference source: mayoclinic.org