How to Differentiate Between Mental Health and Illness

The human mind is tricky! It is certainly difficult for anyone besides the experts to understand whether a person is mentally sick or ill. The difference between mental health and mental illness might not be clear sometimes but you can make a distinction between the two.

 

Can the fear of delivering a public speech fall under mental health disorder? Or is it just nervousness? Can shyness become a mental illness when it becomes a social phobia?

 

Here’s how you can determine if your loved one is suffering from any mental disorder.

It is tough to tell what’s normal and what’s not. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between normal mental health from mental illness as there is no such equipment that can scan and tell you the results.

 

Primary mental health conditions can be identified by physical disorders. However, mental disorders are treated only on the basis of signs and symptoms that can be observed in the daily life of the patient. Here’s what you need to keep an eye on:

 

Behaviour

Consumption of excessive alcohol can be a sign of mental disorder. Other behaviour such as obsessive hand – washing can also be a signal.

 

Feelings

Depression or excessive anger, euphoria too can symbolize that the patient might be suffering from mental illness.

 

Thinking

Suicidal thoughts or adamant behaviour like delusions – fixed beliefs that cannot be changed in light of conflicting evidence – can be some of the symptoms for mental sickness.

 

 

How do mental health providers diagnose mental health conditions?

In order to examine a mental health condition, a mental health provider will work with the patient and the near and dear ones. He shall observe the following:

 

Symptoms of the patient:

A mental health provider will ask you about the symptoms you have experienced and how this has changed your normal routine. For example, if you are feeling depressed without any reason for longer, this might be a sign. Staying sad due to a reason like a divorce or death is a temporary phase and doesn’t really mean any illness. The provider will ask you about your thought, feelings and behaviour and their changed impact on your daily life. Feelings of sadness and discouragement for a longer period can cause mental illness. He might even ask you for a physical check up in order to determine any health conditions.

 

Opinions of the people who care:

By examining you thoroughly, the mental health provider will get the idea of your mental stability; however, the perception of people around you will also be taken in consideration. The ones close to you have been watching you daily. They can certainly differentiate if there are any changes in your behaviour or feelings, and how frequent is that. For example, you might be suffering through mood swings and according to you this might be because of a money issue or a wedding. But your thoughts and actions are always observed by others and if they believe that your mood swings are causing ruckus at work or in relationships.

 

When is a treatment required?

Different mental disorders have different and various symptoms. However, professional help can be required if the following symptoms are found.

 

• Change in the personality, sleeping pattern or eating habits


• Extended depression


• Weird or grandiose ideas


• Inability to cope up with the normal routine life or daily chores


• Extreme anxiety


• Excessive mood swings or anger, violent behavior


• Suicidal thoughts or actions


• Substance abuse

 

 

A lot of people who might be suffering from mental illness believe that these signs and symptoms are a part of their normal life. They may also avoid getting treatments because of shame or fear. If you are worried about your own mental health of a loved one’s, don’t hesitate to for an experts advice.

Categories: behaviour, daily life, health conditions, health provider, illness, mental disorder, Mental disorders, Mental Health, mental illness, Mood Swings, nbsp nbsp, normal routine

How to Get Fitter and Healthier When You Use a Wheelchair

When you use a wheelchair, physical fitness and exercise isn’t your top priority – but it should be. Getting active is vital to your health and wellbeing, and can also help you to manage your daily life more easily. As a wheelchair user, you can face particular fitness and exercise challenges, but whatever your preferences and level of physical ability, there will be options that are right for you. Regular aerobic exercise and strength training is just as important for your wellness as it is for other adults’, and there are many reasons why you should get active.

 

Not only is regular physical activity is good for your physical and mental health, but is can also help you to meet new people. YMCAfit specialist tutor Philip Gill, who specialises in training fitness professionals who work with wheelchair users and people with other disabilities, argues there are a range of reasons why getting active is important for wheelchair users. ‘Using a wheelchair can make it more difficult to do cardiovascular physical activity that raises your heart rate and makes you warm enough to break a sweat,’ Gill notes. ‘This kind of exercise is important for the health of your heart and lungs. Missing out on this kind of exercise can contribute to weight gain over time.’ He adds, ‘Manoeuvring or pushing a wheelchair can also put particular strain on certain muscles in the upper body, making strains or other injuries more likely. Muscle-strengthening exercises can help you to manage your wheelchair in daily life, and avoid these kinds of injuries.’

 

According to the Department of Health, if you’re aged between 19 and 64, you need to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-level aerobic activity a week, and muscle-strengthening activity on two or more days a week, albeit these guidelines are designed for non-wheelchair users. However, Gill says these general guidelines can help you too. ‘In the absence of specific guidelines, wheelchair users can compare their activity levels to the general guidelines for adults,’ Gill asserts. ‘Many wheelchair users will not be doing anywhere near that volume of physical activity. If that’s you, then see these guidelines as a goal, which you should take small steps towards. Remember: even small increases in physical activity will bring health benefits.’

 

The question remains, however; what kinds of exercise can you do when you’re in a wheelchair? Gill explains this will depend on your fitness levels and the types of activity in which you are interested, as well as your personal goals. ‘Your aim might be to improve certain aspects of physical function, to help with daily life,’ says Gill. ‘Or you may be seeking improved fitness, or involvement in competitive sport. Whatever your level of physical ability and confidence, there are activities you can do to improve fitness.’

 

Cardiovascular exercise:

‘The aim is to raise your heart rate, and be warm enough to break a sweat,’ Gill comments. ‘You should be slightly out of breath: enough that you can still hold a conversation, but not sing the words of a song. If you’re unused to exercise or you haven’t exercised for some time, aim to start with 10-minute sessions, and gradually build up towards 20 minutes.’ Try swimming, wheelchair sprinting, using a rowing machine adapted for wheelchair use or wheelchair sports, such as basketball, netball and badminton.

 

Muscle-strengthening exercise:

‘The repeated pushing motion that is used to push a wheelchair means that the chest and shoulder muscles can become tight and prone to injury,’ Gill warns. ‘Meanwhile the back muscles, which are not involved in this pushing motion, can become weaker, because they are never worked. Because of this, it’s a good idea to focus on exercises that work the smaller muscles that support the pushing motion, such as the shoulder muscles: this can help prevent injury. You can also strengthen the back muscles by doing exercises that involve a pulling motion.’

Categories: Cardiovascular exercise, daily life, general guidelines, Heart Rate, muscle strengthening, Muscle-strengthening exercise, physical activity, pushing motion, shoulder muscles