Mental illness is something that affects people everywhere. No age, race, religion, gender, or socioeconomic status is immune. While you can’t always tell which types of mental health disorders Portland, Oregon residents deal with most, it is helpful to learn about the types of mental illness and mental health treatments that exist.
What Is Mental Illness?
Mental illness is defined as a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, or behavior. These conditions, which can be long-lasting or occasional, can affect a person’s ability to function each day, and even relate to others. There are almost 300 of these disorders recognized by the bible of mental health, the DSM-5.
10 Common Mental Health Disorders
It may be surprising to know that the types of mental illness listed in the DSM-5 include things like:
- Autism
- Eating disorders
- Intellectual disabilities
- Kleptomania and other impulse-control disorders
- PMS
- Dementia
But these are not the ones that are most commonly associated with drug and alcohol use. When exploring the connection between addiction and mental health disorders, knowing the common types of mental illness can be helpful.
ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder often starts in childhood and can continue through to adulthood. With ADHD, people will often have trouble paying attention, be overly active, or have difficulty controlling impulsive behaviors.
PTSD
After a traumatic event, such as war, abuse, a serious accident, or a natural disaster, people who deal with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may have trouble coping with everyday life due to stress brought about from reliving the event. They may experience nightmares, mood instability, panic, or fear.
Major Depression
Major depression is a mood disorder that causes intense feelings of sadness, lack of interest, and an inability to cope with daily demands. It is one of the most common mental illnesses affecting Americans today.
Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is different than just being anxious about one thing or knowing the cause of your anxiety, like claustrophobia. This type of anxiety is overwhelming, often long-lasting, and involves ongoing feelings of anxiousness about a wide variety of issues.
OCD
A person with obsessive-compulsive disorder is plagued with repeated, unwanted thoughts. These thoughts are eased by doing a task repeatedly. Anxiety is a common symptom.
Somatic Symptom Disorders
When a person experiences physical symptoms of illness or pain and has an excessive reaction, but a doctor cannot find a medical cause for the symptoms, this disorder is the result. This disorder can make the person feel ‘crazy’ and misunderstood.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
A person who has a dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is one that suffers from disturbances in memory, consciousness, identity, or general awareness of their surroundings or themselves.
Insomnia Disorder
This is a type of sleep disorder that affects most people at some point in their lives. It becomes an official disorder of its own when it is accompanied by significant distress or impairment over time.
Borderline Personality Disorder
BPD is identified in a person that has severe, unstable mood swings, poor self-image, stormy relationships, or is impulsive and unpredictable.
Mental Illness and Addiction
Mental illness and substance use often go hand in hand. According to the National Alliance of Mental Health, 9.2 million U.S. adults experience the conditions together. In fact, substance use is actually classified as a mental illness, too, and falls under Addictive Disorders. With half of all chronic mental illnesses beginning by age 14 and three-quarters starting by age 24, the problem cannot be ignored. Consider the following types of therapy if you are struggling with a mental health or substance use concern:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people gradually modify problematic behaviors, ways of thinking, and harmful beliefs. It helps promote a healthier and more balanced life.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Discover the mental health benefits of being able to manage emotions. Dialectical behavior therapy promotes emotion regulation, communication skills, and de-escalation strategies to promote balance and harmony.
- Family therapy: Addiction and mental health issues involve the entire family. Family therapy allows your loved ones to become active players in your treatment. It teaches communication skills and how to help you cope with mental health episodes and triggers. Leaning to handle problems as a family unit promotes togetherness and healing.
- Yoga Therapy: Our natural exercise and restorative healing methods help people heal their bodies, psyches, and souls.
Getting Therapy Promotes Healing & Hope for the Future
If you are struggling with a mental health concern and substance use disorder, you may feel like you’re out of options. Knowing you’re not alone can be helpful, but when seeking help for addiction, it’s crucial to attend a treatment center that understands the connection to mental illness so that you can get fully on the road to recovery. At Crestview Recovery, we provide the support you need to heal. To learn more, please call us at 866.262.0531.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
