Frequntly Asked Questions

What is a mental illness?

Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions or disorders that affect a person’s mood, thinking and behavior.

Is therapy right for me?

There are many reasons why people consider therapy. Be it divorce, loss, or work transition, the positive effect that therapy could have on your mental health is significant. So whether you’re dealing with anxiety or depression, therapy can help you shake those negative feelings off your life.

Can people with mental illness recover?

Early identification and treatment of mental health issues are vital to recovery. Based on the nature of the mental illness, there are several treatments available. For any type of treatment, it is essential that the affected individual is proactive and fully engaged in the recovery process to improve chances of success.

What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?

  • Attaining a better understanding of yourself and your personal goals and values
  • Developing skills for improving your relationships
  • Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
  • Find new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
  • Managing anger, depression, and other emotional pressures
  • Improving communications skills – learn how to listen to others, and have others listen to you
  • Getting “unstuck” from unhealthy patterns – breaking old behaviors and develop new ones
  • Discovering new ways to solve problems
  • Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence

Does what we talk about in therapy remain confidential?

Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and a psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist’s office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement. You can expect that what you discuss in the session will not be shared with anyone without your consent.

What causes mental illness?

It is becoming clear through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

What Biological Factors Are Involved in Mental Illness?

Some biological factors that may be involved in the development of mental illness include:

Neurochemical Causes: Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain have also been linked to some mental conditions.

Genetics (heredity): Many mental illnesses run in families, suggesting that people who have a family member with a mental illness are more susceptible (have a greater likelihood of being affected) to developing a mental illness.

Infections: Certain infections have been linked to brain damage and the development of mental illness or the worsening of its symptoms.

Structural Causes: This involves possible problems in the “wiring” of different parts of the brain. This includes possible consequences from brain trauma.

What Psychological Factors Contribute to Mental Illness?

Psychological factors that may contribute to mental illness include specific vulnerabilities such as personality traits, particular extremes in temperament features, specific sensitivities to negative emotions, cognitive susceptibility, dysfunctional attitudes, hopelessness, negative distortions.

What Environmental Factors Contribute to Mental Illness?

Certain triggering factors could be significant stressors precipitating a mental illness such as:

  • Losses experiences (physical loss after a trauma, loss of significant others, separation, etc…
  • Chronic threats
  • Long-term exposure to traumatic conditions
  • Harmful family dynamic
  • Living in extreme deprivation and poverty
  • Alcohol and substance misuse
  • Severe neglect
  • War, natural disasters, accidents, etc…
  • Chronic pain and incapacitating chronic illness
  • Social discrimination for example towards minorities

Can mental illness be prevented?

Most mental illnesses are caused by a combination of factors. However, some preventive measures can decrease the likelihood of developing mental illnesses. The concept of attributable risk has gained ground in mental health research, and factors that are related to those can be potentially reduced to somehow prevent mental illnesses: prevent neglect and abuse in childhood, prevent substance abuse, prevent exposure to war, increase social support, decrease the burden of other health disorders, train in the management of stress etc…

Once someone has had a mental illness, can they ever get better again?

According to the disorder, treatment can help the client in getting better and in some cases, full recovery can be achieved through adequate treatment.

What are some of the warning signs of mental illness?

Symptoms of mental disorders vary depending on the type and severity of the condition. Some general symptoms that may suggest a mental illness include:
Problems in concentration
Long-lasting sadness or irritability
Recurrent changes in energy
Extremely high and low moods
Excessive fear, worry, or anxiety
Social withdrawal
Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
Strong feelings of anger
Delusions or hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there)
Increasing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
Suicidal thoughts
Many unexplained physical problems
Confused thinking
Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol

What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?

While both psychiatrists and psychologists are mental health professionals, the big difference is that psychiatrists are medical physicians while psychologists are not. Because they are licensed physicians, psychiatrists can prescribe drugs. Psychologists are not allowed to do that. Psychologists, on the other hand, use psychotherapy as a treatment method.

What treatment options are available?

Treatment options include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, a combination of both as well as electroconvulsive therapy. Treatments can be administered in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Is psychotherapy a substitute for medication?

Psychotherapy in some cases can be sufficient for the treatment of certain mental conditions. However, it may be needed in conjunction with medication. This is why in several cases, it is not considered as a substitute for medication.