Mental health is something that many people of the United States suffer from on a day to day basis. It consists of many disorders that affects how an individual thinks, feels, and acts as they cope with their life. Mental health affects teenagers the most, so it is essential to discuss the types of illnesses, why teenagers struggle with it, how to watch for the important danger signs, and how the illnesses can be treated.
First of all, there are several different types of mental illnesses that teens can suffer from. Mental illnesses cause disturbances in a person’s thoughts and behavior, which can affect the way they live. According to Psychiatry Expert Andrew Skokol, M.D., he explains that “A person can receive more than one personality disorder diagnosis” (American Psychiatric Association 2013). This would be known as comorbid condition, which is referring to having more than one mental illness. Some of these disorders that people can get are anxiety disorders, mood disorders, addiction disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anxiety disorders can include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and panic disorders.
Generalized anxiety disorder is essentially a constant state of worry and fear that interferes with a person’s daily life. Social anxiety disorder is generally the fear of being judged by others. A panic disorder is when a person suffers a panic attack, which is an episode of intense fear when there is no danger or cause. Mood disorders can include major depression, which is the loss of interest in daily activities. Teens can also go through addiction, in which they are rewarding the stimuli notwithstanding the consequences. Post-traumatic stress disorder can be triggered from a terrifying event, whether it was from experiencing it or witnessing it. It can consist of nightmares, flashbacks, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts. All in all, these are the most common and known types of mental illnesses, but there are essentially more than 200 forms of mental illnesses.
Many of the challenges that teens struggle with is mental health. Mental illnesses interrupt brain function that result from genes and the environment. It is estimated that at least 20 percent of adolescents meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental health disorder. In fact, it is stated that “1 in 5 young people suffer from a mental illness” (Teen Mental Health 2019). This is equivalent to 20 percent of the population. For instance, a probable cause of this situation could be that the sleep patterns of teens change during adolescence because of the circadian rhythm, which occurs as a result of an interaction between brain development and the environment’s impact. The sleep pattern of waking up early and going to sleep early changes to the opposite, which would be waking up late and going to sleep late. Teens are also vulnerable to bright lights during the night to keep them up and awake.
Stress is also a big reason as to why teens struggle with mental health, and a way to prevent stress is to avoid what is causing the stress response or to focus on reducing it. Having positive emotions doesn’t necessarily mean that negative emotions will be absent. Of course, one major issue is that teenagers attempt suicide as a way to escape from the symptoms of their illnesses. Up to 90 percent who passed away due to suicide or attempted suicide suffered from a mental illness, and it is shown that LGBTQ individuals are three times more likely to experience mental health issues (Columbus Recovery Center). To conclude, teens who struggle with the symptoms of mental illnesses become afraid to speak out and fear that they will be judged by their peers, so it’s best to encourage them to open up about their problems.
Each illness has its own symptoms, but there are different kinds of warning signs that shouldn’t go unnoticed. Teenagers can experience physical, emotional, hormonal, and social pressures easily, and it can lead to one or more mental health disorders that are a matter of concern and are life-threatening. Some of the common warning signs in adolescents include alcohol and drug consumption, dramatic mood changes, withdrawal, and changes in eating habits (National Alliance on Mental Illness). These conditions can affect a person’s ability to relate to others and function everyday. Many people tend to be in a more positive mood around the morning, but they transition to have more negative feelings towards the afternoon or evening. Serious mood shifts can be treated by professionals, and some lifestyle changes can help with the more low-standard shifts. Eating habits can also be very life-threatening, because teens who have low self-esteem begin to binge eat, which can cause shame and guilt because they ate too much, and it can cause even more overeating.
According to the American Association of Suicidology, it explains that “A warning sign refers to some feature of the developing outcome of interest (suicide) rather than to a distinct construct (risk factor) that predicts or may be related to suicide” (American Association of Suicidology). It also provides the following signs and symptoms that indicate the need for immediate medical involvement, which includes self-harm and threatening to hurt themselves, seeking pills or weapons, and talking or writing about suicide. It is extremely important to pay attention to these types of warning signs in particular, since it is more dangerous. As has been said, it isn’t easy to tell the difference between expected behaviors and the danger signs of a mental illness. These alone can’t predict a mental illness, and learning about developing symptoms or early warning signs, and taking action can help reduce the severity of an illness, and maybe prevent a major illness altogether.
Knowing the warning signs can help to know if a professional is needed. It’s good to get an accurate diagnosis, as it is the first step in getting a treatment plan. A healthcare provider will then help develop a plan that can include medication, therapy, or other lifestyle changes. There are several ways to treat illnesses. After all, the most common ways include handling unusual behavior, counseling therapy, and medication (American Addiction Centers 2019). The outer warning signs are often behavioral-related. Even though it can be difficult to accept, there are people out there who can listen and provide support. It’s best to discuss behaviors and develop a good coping strategy. Seeking counseling therapy can take time to get used to, but in the end, they will be glad that they found help. These mental problems differ from disorder to disorder, and this includes treatment options as well.
Medication is an effective way of managing symptoms of many common mental disorders, otherwise, it is never okay to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. A lot of mental disorders go undiagnosed because the person is unaware of their symptoms being normal or not. It is absolutely necessary for family members and friends to speak up when they notice a problem because it’s the only way they will recognize the need for help. Even though getting help is important, the healing process can take some time. Some medications take weeks to become effective and changes in lifestyles can take even longer. Although, if it doesn’t seem to work, the next best way is to talk with a mental healthcare provider. The best solution for treatment of mental illness varies according to the needs and lifestyle.
Learning to cope with mental health issues is difficult, but it can be done, and it can improve the overall quality of life. It is not always clear when a problem with a person’s mood or thinking has become serious enough to be a concern. It is sometimes normal to have a depressed mood, but it can cause distress if it continues. Teens from ages 13 to 18 have or will have a mental disorder. It is especially important to pay attention to sudden changes in a teen’s thoughts and behaviors. Mental health conditions are treatable and improvement is possible. Many people with mental health conditions return to full form, and some illnesses are preventable. Learning about mental health is an important first step, and caring about and maintaining our mental health is as important as our physical health. We only have one brain and one body, so it’s our job to keep it running in the best way we can by paying attention to and working to improve our mental and physical health.
Works Cited
- “How to Help Someone with Mental Health Problems.” PsychGuides.com, www.psychguides.com/guides/how-to-find-help-treating-a-mental-health-problem/.
- “Mental Disorders.” Teen Mental Health, teenmentalhealth.org/learn/mental-disorders/.
- Taylor. “How to Help Your Teen Struggling With Mental Health Issues.” Columbus Recovery Center | Ohio Drug and Alcohol Rehab Facility, www.columbusrecoverycenter.com/help-teen-with-mental-health-issues/.
