What Causes Mental Health Disorders?
If you’ve been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, it’s normal to ask, “Why me?” and “What caused this?” We don’t entirely understand why some individuals have mental illnesses, but researchers have discovered some influencing characteristics. Once you have a greater understanding of the possible causes of mental disorders near Philadelphia, it’s simpler to discover the support you need and feel less alone.
What Causes Mental Health Disorders In Philadelphia And The US?
There isn’t a irrefutable way to figure out what has caused a mental health disorder. You may have similar life experiences as someone else and develop a disorder that hasn’t impacted them. Or, maybe you have a mental health condition that your parents or siblings don’t have. However, experts have pinpointed certain characteristics that directly correlate to mental health disorders. If you have a psychiatric affliction, you could identify with one of these causes of mental health disorders.
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that happen before the age of 18. These can include:
- Violence and physical abuse
- Being a witness to violence
- Having a member of your family commit suicide or try to do so
- Residing with an individual with a substance use disorder
- Living with a person who has an unmanaged mental health disorder
- Being taken away from parents or guardians
- Housing or food insecurity
The detrimental effects of these events might follow you throughout life. Even have a safer, less traumatic life as an adult, the terror and hurt inflicted by ACEs can lead to psychiatric disorders.
Chronic Medical Issues
Enduring and navigating a chronic, life-endangering physiological condition may take a toll on you. It’s known to be exhausting, frustrating, and terrifying. So, it’s no surprise that people experiencing chronic physical illnesses are at an elevated risk for mental illness, too. If you’re battling consistent anxiety or symptoms of depression as part of a long-term illness, this could be a logical explanation.
Substance Use
Illicit drugs, alcohol, and prescription drugs all contain powerful chemicals that affect how you feel. That’s why some people use these substances and how they foster drug and alcohol use disorders. But the chemicals could alter your neural pathways, creating issues that linger even after the substance is gone. When your brain is modified like this, it may precipitate mental illness.
Social Isolation
Human beings are social creatures. Even private citizens necessitate a little human contact to thrive. If you endure a relatively secluded life with few rewarding interactions or relationships with others, it will impact your mental health.
Chemical Imbalances
Our mental, physical, and emotional health are all connected to chemicals found in our bodies. When those chemicals become out of balance for any reason, we may feel detrimental ramifications. If there’s no apparent cause of your mental disorder, it may be that the neural chemicals that manage your moods are out of balance. Things like genetics and your way of life may cause these imbalances, but the majority of the time, physicians aren’t certain why an individual is enduring this common cause of mental health disorders near Philadelphia.
Why Does The Cause Of Mental Disorders Make Any Difference?
Why is the cause of your mental disorder imporant? You may never identify the precise cause of your condition, but these factors can help enlighten you as to what it is. At that point, you and your medical provider will have less trouble knowing how to address your disorder. For example, some prescriptions might help with chemical imbalances, and therapy may be best to help you work through childhood trauma.
Identifying likely causes of mental illness might also assist you in making necessary lifestyle improvements to help you avoid other disorders. You may also feel less alone understanding others share your experiences and diagnosis.
Discover More About Mental Health Disorders And Treatment
The Counseling Center at Cherry Hill is your trusted local provider of mental health treatment. We offer skilled outpatient guidance when you need assistance diagnosing or managing a psychiatric condition. Dial 856-600-0951 today or fill out the form below, and we’ll reply immediately to discuss your mental health concerns.