Mental disorders or mental disorders are diseases that affect the emotions, thought patterns, and behavior of sufferers. As with physical illness, mental illness also has a cure.
In Indonesia, people with mental disorders are identified as 'crazy people' or 'mentally ill', and often experience unpleasant treatment, even in pasung. In fact, people with mental disorders can be taken to the hospital for treatment.
There are many factors that can trigger mental disorders, ranging from suffering from certain diseases to experiencing stress due to traumatic events, such as the death of a loved one, losing their job, or being isolated for a long time.
Considering these traumatic events have often been experienced by many people lately, it is not surprising that the COVID-19 pandemic is also often associated with the emergence of mental disorders in a person.
If you need a COVID-19 test, click on the link below so you can be directed to the nearest health facility:
- Rapid Test Antibodies
- Antigen Swab (Rapid Test Antigen)
- PCR
Symptoms of Mental Disorder
Symptoms and signs of mental disorders depend on the type of mental disorder experienced. Patients can experience disturbances in emotions, thought patterns, and behavior. Some examples of symptoms and characteristics of mental disorders are:
- Delusions or delusions, namely believing in something that is not real or not in accordance with the actual facts.
- Hallucinations, which are sensations when a person sees, hears, or feels something that is not actually real.
- Mood changes in certain periods.
- Feelings of sadness that last for weeks, even months.
- Feelings of anxiety and fear that are excessive and continuous, to the point of interfering with daily activities.
- Eating disorders, such as being afraid of gaining weight, tending to throw up food, or eating large amounts of food.
- Changes in sleep patterns, such as easy drowsiness and falling asleep, difficulty falling asleep, and breathing problems and restless legs during sleep.
- Nicotine and alcohol addiction, and drug abuse.
- Excessive anger to the point of tantrums and acts of violence.
- Unnatural behavior, such as screaming incoherently, talking and laughing alone, and leaving the house naked.
In addition to symptoms related to psychology, people with mental disorders can also experience physical symptoms, such as headaches, backaches, and heartburn.
When to go to the doctor
Immediately consult a mental health specialist (psychiatrist) if you experience the above symptoms, especially if some of these symptoms appear simultaneously and interfere with daily activities.
If people around you show symptoms of mental disorders, invite them to share and talk nicely about the symptoms they are experiencing. If possible, take him to see a psychiatrist.
Go to the emergency room of a mental hospital immediately if you have signs of harming yourself and others, especially if you have suicidal thoughts. If this happens to someone around you, stay with them and call the emergency number.
Causes of Mental Disorder
It is not known exactly what causes mental disorders. However, this condition is known to be associated with biological and psychological factors, as will be described below:
Biological factors (otherwise called organic mental disorders)
- Disorders of nerve cell function in the brain.
- Infection, for example due to bacteria Streptococcus.
- Congenital abnormalities or injury to the brain.
- Brain damage due to impact or accident.
- Lack of oxygen to the baby's brain during delivery.
- Having parents or family with mental disorders.
- Long-term drug abuse, such as heroin and cocaine.
- Nutritional deficiency.
Psychological factors
- Traumatic events, such as violence and sexual harassment.
- Loss of parents or wasted in childhood.
- Inability to get along with other people.
- Divorce or the death of a spouse.
- Feelings of inferiority, inadequacy, anger, or loneliness.
In addition to the psychological factors mentioned above, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that being in a pandemic situation, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can also be a stressor that makes people more susceptible to mental disorders.
Such stress can stem from fear and worry about health, finances, or work, which are heavily affected by the pandemic.
Mental Disorder Diagnosis
To determine the type of mental disorder suffered by the patient, the psychiatrist will conduct a psychiatric medical examination by interviewing the patient or his family. Questions to be asked include:
- Symptoms experienced, including when the symptoms appeared and their impact on daily activities.
- History of mental illness in the patient and his family.
- Events experienced by the patient in the past that triggered the trauma.
- Drugs and supplements that have been or are being taken.
In order to rule out the possibility of other diseases, the doctor will perform a physical examination and supporting examinations. One of the supporting tests performed is a blood test.
Through blood tests, doctors can determine whether a patient's symptoms are caused by a thyroid disorder, alcoholism, or drug abuse.
Examples of Mental Disorders
After conducting a number of examinations, the doctor can determine the type of mental disorder experienced by the patient. Of the many types of mental disorders, some of the most common are:
1. Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that causes sufferers to feel sad all the time. Unlike ordinary sadness that lasts for a few days, feelings of sadness in depression can last for weeks or months.
2. Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that causes complaints of hallucinations, delusions, and confusion in thinking and behaving. Schizophrenia makes the sufferer unable to distinguish between reality and his own mind.
3. Disturbance worry
Anxiety disorders are mental disorders that make sufferers feel anxious and afraid excessively and continuously in carrying out daily activities. People with anxiety disorders can experience panic attacks that last a long time and are difficult to control.
4. Disturbance bipolar
Bipolar disorder is a type of mental disorder characterized by mood swings. People with bipolar disorder can feel very sad and hopeless at times, then very happy at other times.
5. Distraction sleep
Sleep disorders are changes in sleep patterns that interfere with the health and quality of life of the sufferer. Some examples of sleep disorders are difficulty falling asleep (insomnia), nightmares (parasomnia), or falling asleep very easily (narcolepsy).
Mental Disorder Treatment
Treatment of mental disorders depends on the type of disorder experienced and its severity. In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, the doctor will also advise the patient to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of psychotherapy that aims to change the patient's mindset and response, from negative to positive. This therapy is the main choice for treating mental disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and sleep disorders.
In many cases, doctors will combine cognitive behavioral therapy and medication, to make treatment more effective.
Drugs
To relieve the symptoms experienced by sufferers and increase the effectiveness of psychotherapy, doctors may prescribe the following drugs:
- Antidepressants, for example fluoxetine
- Antipsychotics, such as aripiprazole.
- Anxiety relievers, eg alprazolam.
- Mood stabilizer, such as lithium.
Lifestyle changes
Living a healthy lifestyle can improve the sleep quality of people with mental disorders who also have sleep disorders, especially when combined with the above treatment methods. Some steps that can be taken are:
- Reduce the intake of sugar in the diet.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Limit consumption of caffeinated drinks.
- Quit smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages.
- Manage stress well.
- Do exercise regularly.
- Eat a snack with a small amount of carbohydrates before bed.
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
If the mental disorder is severe enough, the patient needs to undergo treatment in a mental hospital. Likewise, if the patient cannot undergo self-care or to take actions that endanger themselves and others.
Mental Disorder Complications
Mental disorders can cause serious complications, both physically, emotionally, and behaviorally. In fact, one mental disorder that is not treated can trigger another mental disorder. Some of the complications that can arise are:
- Unhappy feelings in life.
- Conflict with family members.
- Difficulty connecting with other people.
- Isolated from social life.
- Addiction to cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs.
- Desire to commit suicide and harm others.
- Caught up in legal and financial problems.
- Vulnerable to illness due to decreased immune system.
Mental Disorder Prevention
Not all mental disorders can be prevented. However, there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of attacks of mental disorders, namely:
- Continue to actively participate in socializing and activities that you enjoy.
- Share with friends and family when you have a problem.
- Do regular exercise, eat regularly, and manage stress well.
- Go to bed and wake up regularly at the same time every day.
- Try exercises for calming the mind and relaxation, for example with meditation and yoga
- Don't smoke and use drugs.
- Limit consumption of alcoholic beverages and caffeinated drinks.
- Consumption of drugs prescribed by a doctor, according to the dosage and instructions for use.
- Immediately see a doctor or psychologist to undergo an initial mental health screening, or if symptoms of a mental disorder appear.