Mental health problems are often referred to as mental health disorders and psychological disorders. There are numerous conditions that can be placed into these categories, such as depression, bulimia nervosa, and narcissistic personality disorder. Each condition is generally characterized by certain behaviors or symptoms. It is common, however, for people to suffer from overlapping conditions.
Depression is one of the mental health problems common yet widely misunderstood. Many people believe that depression is an emotion that sufferers have control over. Depression is actually a disorder that can have devastating effects on a person’s life. It is often accompanied by numerous symptoms such as loss of pleasure, low self-esteem, and the desire to commit suicide. This condition is commonly treated with a group of medications known as anti-depressives.
Bulimia nervosa is often characterized by binge eating followed by excessive vomiting and use of enemas and laxatives. This condition is another of the mental health problems that is widely misunderstood. Since this condition is characterized as an eating disorder, many people fail to realize that it is outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Some mental health professionals believe this condition is properly characterized as an addictive disorder.
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a condition in which a person has a distorted perception of himself. People suffering from NPD tend to experience unreasonable degrees of self-importance and entitlement. These people need a great deal of admiration, but tend to lack empathy and consideration for others. The exact causes of NPD are not known. However, mental health professionals believe factors such as severe emotional abuse during childhood, unpredictable care giving, and drastic extremes of praise and criticism may play a major role.
Paraphilia refers to a group of mental health problems that involve abnormal sexual desires. These include exhibitionism, which is an urge to expose one’s genitals or have sex in the view of others, and frotteurism, which involves recurrent urges to touch or rub others without consent. Also included in this category is pedophilia, which is usually characterized by adults who prefer young children as sexual partners.
Pyromania is a mental health problem that drives a person to deliberately start fires. The sufferer of this condition is not a mere arsonist. He generally is unable to control his impulses. This rare condition is commonly placed into a category known as impulse control disorders. Some mental health professionals, however, believe that is should be classified as an obsessive compulsive disorder.
