When we exercise, our brain releases endorphins and serotonin which help improve our mood. Regular exercise can also reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Almost everyone in the modern world feels stressed at some point. If you struggle to wind down or manage your thoughts, find relaxation techniques that work for you. Some people use yoga, exercising or journal writing to relax and de-stress. What we eat affects our bodies and our brains. A poor diet can make us feel sluggish and increase the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Low self-esteem and self-confidence is a contributing factor to mental illness. Social isolation and poor relationships are risk factors for mental illness. Being social makes you less likely to suffer loneliness and feelings of isolation. Being part of a group of people with common interests or volunteering with a community group will give you a sense of belonging. Setting a goal gives you a purpose and working towards it takes courage, motivation and commitment.
Remember, success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome. Swallowing your pride and asking for help can be hard. Talk to a trusted friend and consult your GP or a mental health professional. Mental illness is a health problem that affects how a person thinks, behaves and interacts with others.
Mental illness is a group of illnesses that are often diagnosed through standard criteria. Around one in five Australians experience a mental illness. Anxiety is the most common mental illness. Anxiety can impact on your ability to sleep, concentrate and do simple tasks. Common symptoms of anxiety include frequently feeling worried, tense, on edge and nervous. Physical symptoms of anxiety include shaking, sweating, rapid breathing, feeling weak, dry mouth, choking, diarrhoea, tense muscles, hot and cold flashes and stomach or chest pain.
Depression is a serious condition that can affect your mental and physical health. Intense feelings of low mood and sadness are experienced for weeks or even years. Depression can have physical symptoms. You may be sick regularly, experience muscle pain, a churning stomach, poor sleep, loss of appetite, experience changes in weight and headaches. Depression often impacts behaviour. You may withdraw from friends and family, have trouble completing tasks at school or work, not go out or do activities you used to enjoy or consume alcohol excessively.
A depressed person may experience a range of feelings. You may be irritated, frustrated, sad, miserable, guilty, indecisive or overwhelmed.
Some people inherit schizophrenia while others acquire it following a brain injury, drug-taking or traumatic experience. The first episode usually occurs between the ages of 15 and 25 but can start later in life.
They may have beliefs that are not true delusions. Diagnosis is difficult because there is no test or a particular sign. A psychiatrist needs to spend time with the patient collecting information because other mental illnesses have similar symptoms to schizophrenia. There is no cure for schizophrenia, but it is treatable with medication and psychological treatment. Bipolar disorders cause extreme shifts in mood. People with bipolar disorders go from elevated mood known as mania to depressive episodes that can last for weeks.
Bipolar 1 — one manic episode with hypomanic or major depressive episodes before and after the manic episode. This type affects both men and women. Bipolar 2 — a hypomanic episode that lasts four days and one depressive episode that lasts for at least two weeks. Understanding that difference is the key to receiving the right kind of care for your condition. Your behavioral health, on the other hand, examines how your habits impact your overall physical and mental wellbeing.
It can help to think of behavioral health as a subset of mental health, in that not all mental health disorders are a result of behavioral issues. Some of them are caused by brain chemistry or genetic inheritance. A short list of mental disorders that are not directly related to or caused by behaviors are:. By contrast, behavioral health disorders result from maladaptive behaviors that negatively impact your physical or mental condition.
Some examples of behavioral health disorders are:. Even though behavioral health disorders are characterized by unhealthy habits, those habits are often not the root cause of the issue. Frequently, behavioral health disorders co-occur with mental illness. Conversely, while many mental health conditions have a biological basis, they can still be severely impacted by your behaviors, in both positive and negative ways.
Maladaptive behaviors — such as drinking, using drugs, or overeating — can exacerbate symptoms of a mental health disorder. On the flipside, developing effective coping mechanisms — such as exercising or meditating — can improve both your physical and mental state. However, psychiatrists attend medical school and become medical doctors before doing specialist training in mental health.
Because they are doctors, psychiatrists understand the links between mental and physical problems. They can also prescribe medications. Psychiatrists are medical doctors with at least 11 years of training — usually more. They first do a medical degree at university. Next they spend at least 1 or 2 years training as a general doctor.
They then complete at least 5 years training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Psychologists have at least 6 years of university training and supervised experience. They may also hold a Masters or Doctorate level qualification in psychology. Psychiatrists can provide a wide range of treatments, according to the particular problem and what will work best. These include:. Psychiatrists tend to treat people who need their medical, psychological and social needs considered.
Someone who has attempted suicide or has suicidal thoughts will usually be seen by a psychiatrist. Psychologists are more likely to see people with conditions that can be helped effectively with psychological treatments. This might include behavioural problems, learning difficulties, depression and anxiety. As with all medical specialists, to see a psychiatrist you need a referral from your GP family doctor.
There are around psychiatrists working across Australia and New Zealand, while there are about 27, registered psychologists. Psychiatrists and psychologists often work together. A psychiatrist might make an initial assessment and diagnosis, then refer you to a psychologist for ongoing psychological treatment talking therapy.
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