It’s alarming that up to 2% of the global population suffers from a mental health. That’s a lot of people who need help and support. Behavioral health looks at how behaviors impact one’s health- mental and physical. Behavioral disorders are common in childhood but can extend into adulthood when left untreated.
These disorders currently identified by the American Psychiatric Association are;
1. Attention-Deficit hyperactivity disorder is characterized by easy distractibility and poor impulse control. It is usually present at a younger age but in adulthood as the condition is progressive and may evolve.
2. Oppositional defiant disorder includes angry and hostile behavior characterized by insubordination to authority and parents. It may further lead to crime. Family history may increase the likelihood.
3. Conduct disorder: This is characterized by the same symptoms as Oppositional defiant disorder but is more severe.
4. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder can be highly disruptive and characterized by frequent outbursts, anger, and irritability.
5. Intermittent explosive disorder: This has the same symptoms as Oppositional defiant disorder and Conduct disorder but could be due to past trauma and abuse. It may lead to a disregard for other people’s rights. Characterized with a low tolerance for frustration, frequent outburst, and anger.
Anger, outburst, and so on are typical in everyday life, but there is a problem when negative behavior becomes persistent over a long period. Psychotherapy is the most common way of managing behavioral disorders, as there is no cure.
Some of the main types of mental health problems and illnesses that affect females are anxiety and depression.
An article from the Mental Health Foundation, 2014 states that one in four people will experience a mental health problem in any given year, and around one in four women experience postnatal depression following the birth of their baby.
For some reason, women are more prone to be diagnosed with certain mental health disorders such as major depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (pickasblog.com).
Hormones play a significant role in depression in women. Postpartum Depression (pickasblog.com) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder are examples. The hormones progesterone and estrogen influence mood and an imbalance can make women more vulnerable to depressive disorders.
When it comes to women’s mental health, the line between what may be imposed by external factors and what should be considered a purely behavioral disorder is often unclear.
Women are often told that they are experiencing normal emotional responses to their circumstances, which can lead them into a state of confusion as they struggle to conceptualize their mental health struggles.
It is even more confusing when they’re met with conflicting information regarding these issues. As such, reaching out for help is delayed.
The societal stigma of mental health illnesses and self-stigma is a powerful barrier that needs to be broken, considering women tend to be more caged in societal standards than men.
It is essential to practice self-forgiveness and compassion as the first step in seeking help. This spurs you to be able to go to the right channel to get the needed help, a psychiatrist or psychologist.
Online resources such as this have created a way to recognize this illness more and draw you closer to help. Social media may be the wrong place to be at times like this; you could take some time off to spend with loved ones.
We have highlighted the most common mental disorders in females and their symptoms to help individuals identify if they may suffer from one of these disorders. We hope this blog will encourage more females to seek help and support if they feel they need it.
