Monday, February 11, 2013
One in four adults has some mental problem
I know it seems like more when you go on internet comment boards--but still 25% stricken each year is substantial. And now, mental ailments are being tagged with the added stigma of maybe leading to spree killings and other atrocities.
The most common mental problems are depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder.
Depression can show up as changes in emotions, lack of interest in activities, inability to work, loss of appetite and extreme tiredness.
Bipolar means mood swings, maybe hearing voices in your head, and out of control behavior, such as rampant spending or taking off.
Schizophrenia usually shows up when a person is in his or her early 20s. Paranoia and hearing voices can be symptoms. Usually dual personalities is rare.
Schizoaffective disorder is less known--moods are at the center. Illogical speech, delusions can arise.
Treatment of all of these can be hard to get, pay for, and may not be lasting. The first step is to talk to your primary physician. Under Obamacare, there may be more funds required of insurance companies--this is not yet clear.
Payment for "physical" and "mental" is supposed to be comparable now--but it's not.
Anyhow--"mental" may be caused by physical brain changes--it's a fine line.
Certainly getting control of an adult's affairs, even if they are menacing people, is extremely difficult.