What does a mental health clinic do?

The brain is the organ that allows us to adapt to the environment and relate to others. Like other organs of the body, it can, at times, make you sick. Brain diseases cause alterations in thinking, mood, perception or behaviour. When these alterations interfere with the way of life of a person, it is necessary to treat them. We call mental illnesses to this type of problems. With proper treatment, it is usually possible to recover and return to the previous activity. Mental illnesses have very different causes. Some have biological causes, like diseases that affect other parts of the body, while others can be caused by certain life experiences. Similar to what happens with fractures: a bone can be broken by a very strong impact (an external factor), but it can also be broken by an alteration of the metabolism (an internal factor), such as osteoporosis. In mental illness, there are external and internal factors that often combine to give rise to the disease.

What are the signs of mental illness?

A mental or behavioural disorder is characterised by a disturbance of intellectual activity, mood, or behaviour that does not conform to cultural beliefs and norms. Mostly, symptoms of mental disorder reflect on the personal functions of the patient. Mental disorders produce symptoms that are observable for the affected person or people in their environment. The symptoms of mental illness can affect emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.  Among them may include:

  1. Feelings of sadness or discouragement
  2. Confused thoughts or reduced ability to concentrate
  3. Excessive worries or fears or intense feelings of guilt
  4. Ups and downs and radical mood changes
  5. Removal of friendships and activities
  6. Severe fatigue, low energy, and sleep problems
  7. Disconnection from reality (delirium), paranoia, or hallucinations
  8. Inability to face the problems or stress of daily life
  9. Problems to understand and relate situations and people
  10. Drug or alcohol abuse
  11. Important changes in eating habits
  12. Changes in sexual desire
  13. Excessive anger, hostility or violence
  14. Suicidal thoughts

The specific early signs vary from one mental disorder to another. Mental retardation, substance abuse, depression, dementia, schizophrenia, autism in childhood and are examples of mental disorders. They can appear in men and women of any age and in any race or ethnic group. Although the causes of many mental disorders are not well known, it is believed that they depend on a combination of biological, psychological and social factors, such as stressful events, family problems, brain diseases, hereditary or genetic disorders, and medical problems. In most cases, mental disorders are diagnosed and treated effectively.

How are mental illnesses treated?

There are two main groups of treatments:

  1. Drugs: With the advancement of modern pharmacology and knowledge of the brain, drugs have appeared that regulate the functioning of the nervous system. Many mental illnesses have an effective treatment, allowing affected people that the fact of having these diseases does not influence their way of life.
  2. Psychotherapy: The non-pharmacological intervention, usually in the form of a conversation between the patient and his doctor, can solve many problems. Just as a given life experience can produce disease, a life experience guided by a therapist can restore a patient.

Each disease has its treatment. Sometimes it is necessary to combine both therapies, especially in moderate or severe cases. Turn to Gold Coast’s leading mental health clinic – Robina Private for the proper assessment and care from expert mental health professionals.