If you find yourself experiencing signs of a mental illness, you may wonder about the seriousness of the situation. You may end up asking yourself, “Do I have a mental illness or am I overreacting?” It can be scary to consider the idea of having a mental health disorder. However, you are not alone, and powerful, effective help is available. Millions of people take advantage of programs that help them understand and improve their mental health.
What Types of Mental Health Disorders Are There?
Several types of mental health disorders can impact a person’s life. In fact, some people deal with more than one. One common category of mental illness is mood disorders. These impact a person’s moods, making it difficult or impossible for them to regulate them without assistance. Mood disorders include the following:
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Postpartum Depression
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Substance-induced mood disorders. These are triggered by someone who becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol
Another type of mental health disorder includes anxiety disorders. These include panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and agoraphobia. Less common but just as serious are thought disorders. These include schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
People who experience a traumatic event or a series of them may develop post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Last of all, what’s called a dual diagnosis can develop for many people. This is the existence of both one or more mental illnesses along with the presence of an addiction to alcohol or drugs.
Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness That May Help You Determine if You Are Overreacting
When someone suffers from a mental illness, several types of signs and symptoms may surface. Different signs can indicate one or more types of mental health disorders. If you are wondering “Do I have a mental illness or am I overreacting?”, be on the lookout for signs that include:
- Feelings of anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Feeling depressed
- Hopelessness
- Difficulty focusing or communicating
- Isolating
- Change in sleeping patterns
- Change in appetite
- Weight loss or gain
- Too much or too little energy
- Loss of interest in hobbies and other interests
- Physical symptoms, including headaches, body aches, nausea, and digestive issues that don’t have an explanation
- Doing poorly at work or in school
- Hallucinating
- Paranoia
- Suicidal thoughts or feelings
- Using alcohol or drugs to self-medicate
So, Do I Have a Mental Illness or am I Only Overreacting?
Anyone can try to self-diagnose when they want an answer to the question “Do I have a mental illness or am I overreacting?” However, it’s important to speak to an expert to get a definitive answer. A doctor or therapist can help provide a diagnosis that answers questions the person has about their mental health. Staff members at qualified mental health treatment centers can also help explore what’s going on. If treatment can help the individual enjoy better mental health, the right facility can provide the type of treatment program needed.
It’s important to remember that having a mental illness does not mean a person is alone. Keep in mind these sobering statistics:
- One in five U.S. adults experiences a mental health disorder. This represents almost 53 million people.
- 17% of kids aged 6 to 17 also deal with mental illness. This represents 7.7 million young people.
What Kind of Treatment is Available for Mental Illness?
If you feel like the answer to “Do I have a mental illness or am I overreacting?” is that you do need assistance, remember that professional help is widely available. In fact, someone who receives care from experienced staff members of a mental health treatment facility can turn their life around. This type of care for mental illnesses helps empower the individual and allows them to take back the reigns of their life.
Choices for treatment for mental illness include two categories: residential and outpatient. Residential care helps people who need round-the-clock care while living in a facility. Stays in these centers usually last a minimum of 30 days and often extend to two or more months. A step down from residential is outpatient care. This type takes place during the day while the individual can still live in their home.
With both types of treatment, the individual participates in several types of therapy. Each type is designed to help address and improve the person’s mental health disorders. Once they receive a diagnosis, the staff will determine which types of therapy will benefit them and a schedule will be created.
Get Mental Health Help in Atlanta, GA Now
New View Wellness in Atlanta understands just how vital good mental health is for everyone. When you take care of your mental well-being, it helps you thrive in all areas of your life. We specialize in outpatient programs designed to treat several kinds of mental health disorders. Our caring, experienced staff focuses on the needs of each person who comes to us for assistance. We help you understand the source of your symptoms and how to minimize and even eliminate some of them. From there, you gain a better sense of focus and control of your life.
If you find yourself wondering “Do I have a mental illness or am I overreacting?”, we can talk to you about your situation. Visit our admissions page now and talk to one of our friendly staff members.