Are there serious mental illnesses and non-serious diseases? Does treatment differ according to this classification? Learn with us through the following paragraphs what is meant by the most dangerous types of mental illness and examples of these types, in addition to some treatment methods and tips for living with them and other information that is important to know when facing mental illness.

What is meant by the most dangerous types of mental illness?

Mental illnesses or mental illnesses are disorders that affect a person’s ability to think, mood and behavior, and these illnesses can range from mild to serious, and according to the National Institute on Mental Health, at least 1 in 5 people suffers from mental illness. Myself.

Serious Mental Illness (SMI) is defined as a disorder affecting anyone over the age of 18 that causes serious mental, behavioral and psychological changes that lead to serious dysfunction that affects or limits a person’s ability to carry out vital and essential life activities.

The most serious mental illnesses are classified in the DSM as a small subset of a list of nearly 300 mental and psychiatric illnesses.

It is worth noting that all types of mental illness are accompanied by characteristics that can cause a disorder that interferes with the patient’s life, so the classification of mental illness as a serious mental illness may vary and change from one case to another.

What are the most dangerous types of mental illness?

After we know what the most dangerous types of mental illness are, the most common types that are classified as serious mental illness include:

1- Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that causes extreme and violent changes in mood, energy level, and activity. People with this disorder also have episodes of mania in which they feel very happy or very high energy, and they also suffer from episodes of depression where they feel very sad or low energy.

2- Major depressive disorder

Acute depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders, and its symptoms vary from person to person and usually include the following:

• feeling sad
• Losing hope.
• Stress.
• Pessimism.
• nervousness;
• Lack of sense of self-worth.
• Tired.

These symptoms interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, eat and generally enjoy life.

3- Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the most dangerous types of mental illness that causes sufferers to interpret reality in an abnormal way. A person with this disorder may experience hallucinations, delusions, highly distorted thinking, and a reduced or no ability to carry out usual daily tasks.

There are also some terms associated with serious mental illnesses that are also used to refer to these types that you should know about, including:

• Emotional disturbances or mood disorders.
• Manic-depressive or manic-depressive disorders.
• Major depressive disorders or major depression.

Despite popular beliefs, having a serious mental illness is not an option or a personality weakness, and it is not something that can be easily overcome. The causes of these serious disorders are unknown in many cases, but there are many factors that can increase the risk of developing them, such as, Having a family history, abnormalities in brain chemistry, or experiencing major traumatic or stressful events.

Is there a treatment for the most dangerous types of mental illness?

Treatment options for the most dangerous types of mental illness or any type of mental illness differ from one person to another. In some cases where the diagnoses are similar, the treatment journey can vary, so it can be said that there is no specific treatment program for these types.

There are several treatment options and tools that can be part of the journey to recovery from any serious mental illness, including:

1. Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy explores thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and aims to improve a patient’s life. Types that are used include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Interpersonal Psychotherapy.
2. pharmaceutical: Medications do not cure mental illness, but they can help reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms, which can help improve the person’s quality of life and enhance the recovery journey.
3. Complementary and alternative medicine CAM: This refers to some treatment options and alternative practices that may not be fully medically supported, such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, relaxation techniques and exercises.
4. Brain stimulation therapies: These include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), during which the brain is directly stimulated or touched with electricity, magnets, or the use of implants.

Tips for coping with the most dangerous types of mental illness

Having any of the most dangerous types of mental illness can make a person suffer in terms of sleep, work, study, and relationships of all kinds. In addition to the aforementioned treatment methods, which the doctor determines the appropriate type according to each case, there are some strategies that can also help in coexisting with these diseases, including:

• Adhere to the treatment plan even if you feel better and do not stop going to psychotherapy sessions or stop taking medications.
• Communicate regularly with your healthcare practitioner, informing him of all the psychological and physical changes you are going through during treatment and all that is new. Contrary to belief, the healthcare practitioner is an important part of the treatment program, and it is not just the psychiatrist.
• Learn more about your disorder. Learning about an illness can help you stick to a treatment plan. Learning about a mental disorder can help those close to you provide more support and encouragement.
• Take care of yourself and manage stress by trying different exercises and relaxation techniques, as well as eating a healthy diet and exercising.
• Communicating with family and friends. Maintaining relationships with others at this time is important and vital. There is nothing wrong with communicating and asking for help when needed.