What Are Mental Illnesses?

Mental Disorders:

Major Depression Disorders

Breonna Gutierrez

PSYC 2301

Annie Maier

December 1, 2011

What are mental illnesses? Many people classify someone with a mental disorder as someone that has gone crazy. However, that is not the case. The scientific definition of a mental illness is a "medical condition that disrupt[s] a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning" (NAMI). A few examples of mental illnesses would be schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Much research has been conducted on the major depression disorder, and it has been found that depression stems from both biological and environmental surroundings. (ALLPSYCH) A vital factor in someone with depression is the biological factor. Research has shown whether the person lives with the relative or not, it has a negative effect on the person. Another key factor in depression besides a genetic disorder is the stress that a human is faced with. This stress includes factors such as job problems, legal problems, and financial struggles. (ALLPSYCH)

Depression has brought about many known symptoms. Most of the common symptoms accommodated with major depression include the feeling of emptiness; reduce of interest in things formerly interested in, difficulty conversing with others. The most common symptom would be suicidal thoughts or suicidal intentions.

Suicidal thoughts are troubling, especially when accompanied by depression, other mental illnesses, alcohol or substance abuse, or plans for suicide. In otherwise healthy people, such thoughts are often brought about by a sudden, unexpected, and usually negative change in life circumstances. Sleep deprivation that can be the result of having a very late bedtime or being unable to go to sleep is just one lifestyle issue that can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts. (ALLPSYCH) Strong evidence exists that depression and many other forms of mental illness can be passed from parent to child and that a tendency toward suicidal ideation and suicide is likewise inherited. (ALLPSYCH)