Mental illnesses Definition, Causes

'What is mental illness' is a question all who think of themselves sane and insane have. If you too would like to know more about mental illness symptoms then read on... i decided to share some of my knowledge and expertise so that somebody out there who can not afford to seek help or is powerless to do so. I trust you will find theses articles informative and educative.
Mental Illness: Definition
Mental illness definition states that it is 'a mental condition that affects the mood, thinking and behavior of the affected individual'. Mental illness can lead to a lot of problems in time and also reduce the ability of a person in different areas of life, like work, family, personal relationships and social setups. There are over 200 mental illnesses and conditions that range from minor problems to severe mental disorders. Schizophrenia and depression are the most common mental illnesses.

As seen from the mental disorder definition, it is a disorder and not a disease. The signs and symptoms of mental illness are always open for debate and interpretation. As each individual is different from the other, similarly, the manifestation of a mental illness in different individuals tends to be slightly different.
What is Mental Illness Caused By?
The exact cause of a mental illness is not known. The causes of mental illness include genetic, biochemical and environmental factors that may lead to development of a mental illness. Some mental illnesses are biological in nature and some occur due to an emotional turmoil within an individual.

In case of biochemical causes, these occur due to chemical imbalances within the body. Some patients show changes within their brain patterns, which is what triggers a mental illness. The neurotransmitters within the brain going haywire may lead to mood disorders. Hormonal imbalances may also lead to mental disorders.

Environment plays a very important role in inoculating the seeds of mental illness in an individual. People who have been abused physically, sexually or mentally in their childhood or adolescent years are at a risk of developing mental problems as they grow into adults. A traumatic life experience may also shoot off chemical and emotional disturbances within the mind leading to mental illnesses. Financial loss, family problems, loss of a loved one, bullying by friends and peers, low self esteem, etc. are some of the factors that lead to mental illnesses.

Genetic factor is something no one can ever escape. Genes make an individual and mental illness can be inherited from our parents and forefathers. If some member of the family suffers from a mental illness, the genes can be passed on within the family. This genetic factor, if predisposed with an environmental factor, may lead to a full blown mental illness in a patient.
I hope i am not boring you since i have talked too much I will stop here since you need to digest a lot of information which I have posted. Kindly take it with a
pinch of salt.Next time i will talk about the different types of mental illnesses and how to deal with them.