Is Mental Illness Permanent? (2024)

• Stephanie Catalano, LCSW
• Posted Date:September 22, 2021

What Is Mental Illness?

Having a mental illness can be tough and draining. It is very easy to feel hopeless and wonders if it’ll ever stop. But, will others who you feel this way forever? Wouldn’t it be great if it could just go away? But, unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Sad but true, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always feel the way you do now. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):

Mental illnesses are common in the United States. Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (51.5 million in 2019). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe.

What Are Some Types Of Mental Illnesses?

There are many different types of mental illness. Some common ones include:

• Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias
• Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders
• Eating disorders
• Personality disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia

Treatment Vs. Cure – What is The Difference?

When someone that has an illness is cured, it means it’s gone forever and will never return. Some illnesses can’t be cured, though, like diabetes. Once you get diabetes, you’ll have it for the rest of your life. But even an illness you have for lifelike diabetes can be treated. Those people with diabetes who take their medications regularly, make some lifestyle changes, and really make an effort to take care of themselves can live long and healthy lives. Taking medications, lifestyle changes, and taking care of yourself are considered treatments for diabetes.

Mental illnesses are the same way. There’s no cure for mental illness, but there are lots of effective treatments. People with mental illnesses can recover and live long and healthy lives just like those people with diabetes.

How Do You Treat Mental Illness?

For most people, a combination of lifestyle changes along with some therapy, medication, and support is helpful for treating mental illness. Some of these are more effective than others for certain conditions and certain people. It may take some time to discover what works for you, but it is worth it.

• Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, meditation and breathing exercises, and getting good quality sleep can do wonders for your physical and mental health. Quitting or cutting back on alcohol and drugs is also a big benefit.

• Therapy

Meeting with a professional therapist and getting to know how to cope with different situations in life that may be triggered can really help make for an easier life. Being self-aware of yourself and your work is really an eye-opener to greater opportunities to enjoy life. There are many different types of therapy. Most therapists use multiple techniques, depending on the needs of the person they’re working with. The most common type of therapy currently is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). In CBT, a therapist helps you examine your thoughts and beliefs and how these influence your behavior.

• Medication

Of course, there are medications that can be another option to help you out with your mental illness. However, medications affect every person differently, so be sure to speak with your doctor to see which best suits you and your illness.

• Support

Finding support groups for what you are going through probably has the most rewards. When you find others who have gone through the same thing you have,e you are more comfortable with yourself and feel more connected and not alone. It also creates a space where people can share what has worked for them and talk through their struggles with people who understand.

We Can Help At Agape Treatment Center

Here at Agape Behavioral Healthcare Network, we take mental health issues of all varieties very seriously and provide a safe, nurturing environment to learn about the disorders plaguing them from an emotionally unstable life.

Our licensed mental health clinicians will fully assess an individual that seems, feels, or has been previously diagnosed with a mental health disorder, and meet them exactly where they are in life. GET HELP TODAY!

Call the Agape Treatment Center admissions team at 888-614-0077 to learn more about what our addiction and mental health facilities can do for you or your loved one.