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What Causes Mental Health Disorders?

June 28, 2024

If you are living with a mental health disorder, it’s only natural to ask, “Why me?” and “Why did this happen?” We don’t completely understand why some individuals are impacted by mental illnesses, but scientists have identified some characteristics that may give rise to them. Once you have a greater understanding of the possible causes of mental disorders near Middlesex, it’s less difficult to determine the treatment you need and feel less isolated.

What Causes Mental Health Disorders In Middlesex And The United States?

There isn’t a conclusive way to figure out what has caused a mental health disorder. You can have equivalent life experiences to another person and develop a disorder that they don’t. Or, maybe you’ve been diagnosed with a mental health condition that your relations don’t have. However, experts have singled out certain traits that greatly correlate to mental health disorders. If dealing with a psychiatric illness, you could relate to one or more of these causes of mental health disorders.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are distressing events experienced before the age of 18. These may include:

  • Violence and physical abuse
  • Witnessing violence
  • Having a loved one attempt or die from suicide
  • Habitating with someone with a substance use disorder
  • Living with a person who has an unmanaged mental health disorder
  • Separation from parents or family members
  • Food or housing insecurity

The harmful ramifications of these events may follow you throughout your life. Even have a more stable, safer life in your adult years, the fear and hurt imposed by ACEs might lead to psychiatric illnesses.

Chronic Medical Issues

Enduring and navigating a chronic, life-endangering medical issue will be hard on you. It’s known to be draining, discouraging, and scary. So, it’s no surprise that people with chronic physical illnesses are at a higher risk for mental ailments, too. If you’re struggling with consistent anxiety or feelings of depression as a result of a lifelong illness, this could be a sound justification.

Drug Or Alcohol Use

Illicit drugs, alcohol, and prescription drugs all have strong chemicals that affect your feelings and thoughts. That’s the reason why individuals use these mind-altering substances and why they develop alcohol and drug use disorders. But those chemicals can modify your brain’s chemistry, creating problems that last even after the substance isn’t present. If your neural circuitry is modified like this, it can lead to mental illness.

Social Isolation

Humans are social creatures. Even private people necessitate a little human connection to thrive. If you live a rather secluded life with few positive relationships or contact with other individuals, it will affect your mental health.

Chemical Imbalances

Our physical, emotional, and mental well-being are all linked to chemicals found in our bodies. When those chemicals become off-kilter for any reason, we may endure unpleasant repercussions. If there’s no evident reason behind your mental disorder, it might be that the neural chemicals controlling your feelings are unbalanced. Elements like lifestyle and genetics may precipitate these imbalances, but most of the time, medical professionals don’t know why someone is experiencing this common cause of mental health disorders near Middlesex.

Why Does The Cause Of Mental Disorders Make A Difference?

So why does the cause of your mental disorder make any difference? You could never pinpoint the irrefutable cause of your illness, but these factors can help you get a good idea of what it is. At that point, you and your healthcare provider will have less difficulty determining how to address your disorder. For example, some prescriptions might help with chemical imbalances, and therapy may be best to help you overcome childhood trauma.

Understanding likely causes of mental illness might also aid you in making needed lifestyle changes to help you avoid future disorders. You may also feel less isolated understanding others have similar experiences.

Discover More About Mental Health Disorders And Treatment

The Counseling Center at Middlesex is your local resource for mental health treatment. We provide compassionate outpatient guidance when you need assistance managing or diagnosing a psychiatric disorder. Place a call to 732-629-9510 today or send in the form below, and we’ll reply right away to consult on your mental health situation.