Mental Disorders
What is mental health?
Mental health refers to your emotional and psychological well-being. Having good mental health helps you lead a relatively happy and healthy life. It helps you demonstrate resilience and the ability to cope in the face of life’s adversities.
Your mental health can be influenced by a variety of factors, including life events or even your genetics.
There are many strategies that can help you establish and keep good mental health. These can include:
- keeping a positive attitude
- staying physically active
- helping other people
- getting enough sleep
- eating a healthy diet
- asking for professional help with your mental health if you need it
- socializing with people whom you enjoy spending time with
- forming and using effective coping skills to deal with your problems
What is mental illness?
Mental health refers to your emotional and psychological well-being. Having good mental health helps you lead a relatively
Mental illness is a broad term that encompasses a wide variety of conditions that affect the way you feel and think. It can also affect your ability to get through day-to-day life. Mental illnesses can be influenced by several different factors, including:
- genetics
- environment
- daily habits
- biology
Mental health statistics
Although mental illnesses are common, they vary in severity. About one in 25 adults experience a serious mental illness (SMI) each year. A SMI can significantly reduce your ability to carry out daily life. Different groups of people experience SMIs at different rates.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, women are more likely to experience SMI than men. Those ages 18 to 25 are most likely to experience an SMI.
Mental health disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) helps mental health professionals diagnose mental illnesses. There are many types of mental health disorders. In fact, almost 300 different conditions are listed in DSM-5.
Our doctors are trained in U.S.A. at the best hospitals. Our Doctors are American Board Certified (highest degree in specialization), have over 30 years experience in U.S.A. treating and educating other doctors in how to properly diagnose and treat mental disorders. Our doctors have earned the ‘the Top Doctor’ award in the United States.
We treat the following conditions at our clinic:
Psychiatric Disorders
CONDITIONS WE TREAT:
- Abnormal, Unusual, Strange Behavior
- Addiction
- Attention deficit (ADHD)-Children
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)-Adults
- Adolescent Problems
- Alcohol Addiction
- Anxiety
- Behavior & Thought Problems
- Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression)
- Concentration Problems
- Children Educational/Developmental Problems
- Depression
- Dementias
- Drug Abuse
- Early Parenting Issues
- Emotional Outbursts
- General Psychiatry
- Geriatric (Older age) Problems
- Neurological Disorders
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Attacks
- Tic Disorders
WE NOW OFFER CONFIDENTIAL ONLINE TELEMEDICINE CONSULTATIONS WHERE YOU CAN TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR FROM THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HOME FOR YOUR ULTIMATE PEACE OF MIND
These are some of the most common mental illnesses affecting people in Pakistan:
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness that affects about 4% of Pakistanis each year. It is characterized by episodes of energetic, manic highs and extreme, sometimes depressive lows.
These can affect a person’s energy level and ability to think reasonably. Mood swings caused by bipolar disorder are much more severe than the small ups and downs most people experience on a daily basis.
Persistent depressive disorder
Persistent depressive disorder is a chronic type of depression. It is also known as dysthymia. While dysthymic depression isn’t intense, it can interfere with daily life. People with this condition experience symptoms for at least two years.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) goes beyond regular everyday anxiety, like being nervous before a presentation. It causes a person to become extremely worried about many things, even when there’s little or no reason to worry.
Those with GAD may feel very nervous about getting through the day. They may think things won’t ever work in their favor. Sometimes worrying can keep people with GAD from accomplishing everyday tasks and chores. GAD affects about 3 percent of Pakistanis every year.
Major depressive disorder
Major depressive disorder (MDD) causes feelings of extreme sadness or hopelessness that lasts for at least two weeks. This condition is also called also called clinical depression.
People with MDD may become so upset about their lives that they think about or try to commit suicide. This condition is common and about 8 Percent of Pakistanis experience at least one major depressive episode each year.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) causes constant and repetitive thoughts, or obsessions. These thoughts happen with unnecessary and unreasonable desires to carry out certain behaviors, or compulsions.
Many people with OCD realize that their thoughts and actions are unreasonable, yet they cannot stop them.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that’s triggered after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Experiences that can cause PTSD can range from extreme events, like war and national disasters, to verbal or physical abuse.
Symptoms of PTSD may include flashbacks or being easily startled.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia impairs a person’s perception of reality and the world around them. It interferes with their connection to other people. It’s a serious condition that needs treatment.
They might experience hallucinations, have delusions, and hear voices. These can potentially put them in a dangerous situation if left untreated.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder, sometimes called social phobia, causes an extreme fear of social situations. People with social anxiety may become very nervous about being around other people. They may feel like they’re being judged.
This can make it hard to meet new people and attend social gatherings. Approximately 15 million adults in Pakistan experience social anxiety each year.
Coping with mental illnesses
The symptoms of many mental illnesses may get worse if they’re left untreated. Reach out for psychological help if you or someone you know may have a mental illness.
If you’re unsure where to start, visit your primary care doctor. They can help with the initial diagnosis and provide a referral to a psychiatrist.
It’s important to know that you can still have a full and happy life with a mental illness. Working with a therapist and other members of your mental health team will help you learn healthy ways to manage your condition.
Mental disorder symptoms
Each type of mental illness causes its own symptoms. But many share some common characteristics.
Common signs of several mental illnesses may include:
- not eating enough or overeating
- having insomnia or sleeping too much
- distancing yourself from other people and favorite activities
- feeling fatigue even with enough sleep
- feeling numbness or lacking empathy
- experiencing unexplainable body pains or achiness
- feeling hopeless, helpless or lost
- smoking, drinking, or using illicit drugs more than ever before
- feeling confusion, forgetfulness, irritability, anger, anxiety, sadness, or fright
- constantly fighting or arguing with friends and family
- having extreme mood swings that cause relationship problems
- having constant flashbacks or thoughts that you can’t get out of your head
- hearing voices in your head that you can’t stop
- having thoughts of hurting yourself or other people
- being unable to carry out day-to-day activities and chores
Stress and periods of emotional distress can lead to an episode of symptoms. That may make it difficult for you to maintain normal behavior and activities. This period is sometimes called a nervous or mental breakdown.
Mental health diagnosis
Diagnosing a mental health disorder is a multi-step process. During a first appointment, your doctor may perform a physical exam to look for signs of physical issues that could be contributing to your symptoms.
Some doctors may order a series of laboratory tests to screen for underlying or less obvious possible causes.
Your doctor may ask you to fill out a mental health questionnaire. You may also undergo a psychological evaluation. You might not have a diagnosis after your first appointment.
Because mental health can be complex and symptoms may vary from person to person, it may take a few appointments for you to get a full diagnosis.
WE NOW OFFER CONFIDENTIAL ONLINE TELEMEDICINE
CONSULTATIONS WHERE YOU CAN TALK TO YOUR
DOCTOR FROM THE PRIVACY OF YOUR HOME FOR YOUR
ULTIMATE PEACE OF MIND