What Causes Mental Health Disorders?
If you are dealing with a mental health disorder, it’s normal to ask, “Why me?” and “Why did this happen?” We don’t entirely understand why certain people are impacted by mental afflictions, but researchers have identified some contributing factors. Once you have a better understanding of the potential causes of mental disorders near Millbury, it’s easier to find the support you need and feel less isolated.
What Causes Mental Health Disorders In Millbury And The US?
There’s no conclusive way to determine what has precipitated a mental health disorder. You can have similar life experiences to someone else and develop a disorder that they don’t. Or, possibly you have a mental health condition that your relatives haven’t encountered. Even so, researchers have identified certain traits that directly correlate to mental health disorders. If dealing with a psychiatric illness, you could empathize with one of these causes of mental health disorders.
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are distressing events that occur prior to the age of 18. These can include:
- Acts of violence or physical abuse
- Being a witness to violence
- Having a member of your family commit suicide or attempt to do so
- Habitating with someone with a substance use disorder
- Living with a loved one who has an uncontrolled mental health disorder
- Being taken away from parents or loved ones
- Housing or food insecurity
The detrimental repercussions of these events can stay with you throughout life. Even have a more stable, safer life as an adult, the fear and damage inflicted by ACEs may contribute to psychiatric conditions.
Chronic Medical Concerns
Being afflicted by and managing a chronic, life-changing medical condition may exact a toll on you. It’s frustrating, frightening, and draining. So, it isn’t surprising that people with chronic physical illnesses are at a higher risk for mental illness, as well. If you’re battling frequent anxiety or depression as part of a longstanding illness, this could be a logical rationale.
Substance Use
Alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs all have powerful chemicals that affect your thoughts and feelings. That’s why individuals use these mind-altering substances and why they become afflicted by drug and alcohol use disorders. But these chemicals may modify your neural pathways, creating issues that persist even when the substance is gone. Whenever your neural circuitry is altered like this, it can lead to mental health disorders.
Social Isolation
People are social animals. Even the most private citizens require a bit of human connection to flourish. If you live a mostly secluded life with few positive relationships or contact with other individuals, it will affect your mental health.
Chemical Imbalances
Our emotional, mental, and physical welfare are all tied to chemicals located in our bodies. Whenever those chemicals become off-kilter for whatever reason, we may experience unpleasant repercussions. If there’s no obvious cause behind your psychiatric disorder, it may be that the brain chemicals controlling your moods are imbalanced. Aspects like genetics and lifestyle may lead to these imbalances, but most of the time, physicians don’t understand why an individual is undergoing this common cause of mental health disorders near Millbury.
Why Does The Cause Of Mental Disorders Make A Difference?
Why does the cause of your mental disorder make any difference? You could never determine the exact cause of your disorder, but these factors will help improve your understanding of what it is. At that point, you and your healthcare provider will have an easier time figuring out how to manage your disorder. To illustrate, some prescriptions may help with chemical imbalances, and therapy may be best to help you work through childhood trauma.
Understanding potential causes of mental health disorders can also help you make needed lifestyle improvements to help prevent further disorders. You may also feel less isolated knowing others share your experiences and diagnosis.
Learn More About Mental Health Disorders And Treatment
The Counseling Center At Millbury is your trusted local provider of mental health treatment. We supply compassionate outpatient support when you need assistance diagnosing or managing a psychiatric illness. Place a call to 508-433-3866 today or complete the form on this page, and we’ll answer right away to discuss your mental health needs.