Psychologists Imperative in Curing Mental Disorders
August 24th, 2008Mental health disorders are more common than one would think. There are numerous mental health disorders known to man. Some are not too serious, but others can be so severe that the individual will find it hard to live a normal life. Individuals with full-scale mental disorders could have problems keeping a job or sustaining healthy social relationships. Regardless of whether the individual is inflicted with a mild mental disorder or a more serious one, seeking the help of a psychologist is always essential.
Common Mental Health Disorders
The most commonly known mental health disorders are phobia, panic attack, post-traumatic stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. All of these mental illnesses can be treated by a qualified psychologist.
A phobia is an extreme fear of a particular thing. Phobias of heights, spiders, and confined spaces are very common. An individual with this disorder will often experience an increased heart rate and maybe some nausea when facing their particular fear. Today, psychologists sometimes use exposure-based treatments to cure phobias.
Panic attacks generally occur when one is very nervous or worried. They can also happen without any justified cause. Panic attacks cause difficulty in breathing, dizziness, and sweating.
Post-traumatic stress is a disorder that occurs after a disturbing experience, such as a car accident or rape. The symptoms of this include flashbacks, nightmares, insomnia, and depression. Psychologists usually treat post-traumatic stress by allowing patients to continuously express their feelings about their experience.
Individuals with irrational and obsessive behavior, such as repeated hand-washing and excessive cleaning, are diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. Individuals with this illness often feel anxiety and distress if they do not carry out their obsessive rituals.
Depression is yet another common mental illness. This is characterized by extreme sadness that lasts for weeks, months, or even years. The symptoms of depression include sleep disturbances, anxiety, guilt, and thoughts of suicide.
Schizophrenia is one of the more severe types of mental health disorders. Its symptoms include delusions, strange and erratic behavior, and hallucinations.
Importance of Consulting a Psychologist
Given the complexity of mental health disorders, it is impossible to make a self-diagnosis, let alone find a treatment for yourself. Mental health disorders are illnesses and thus need to be treated by clinical psychologists.
Individuals may shy away from seeking a psychologist because of embarrassment or because of the stigma attached to mental health disorders. However, you must remember that without the help of a certified psychologist, the situation can spiral out of control. With proper treatment, most mental illnesses can be effectively cured.
Finding a Psychologist in Your Area
Once you are ready to meet with a psychologist, it is important that you find one that is easily accessible to you so that you can make regular appointments. This is key to being properly treated.
If you are in the Washington, D.C. area, there are numerous psychologists and psychotherapists for you there. Karen Osterle is a psychotherapist who takes ideas from body-centered psychology and applies them to psychotherapy for a well-rounded practice. If these services would be beneficial to you, check your local directory for a psychotherapist or psychologist in Washington, D.C.. There are also a number of search engines available on the Web that will allow you to input your ZIP code and find a qualified psychologist or psychotherapist in Washington, D.C. that is nearest to where you live.












