In very general terms, psychological illness occurs when a person's thoughts or emotions prevent that person from functioning normally. Feeling upset, even frequently, is considered normal and healthy if there is an identifiable cause for the emotion and if the feelings don't interfere with a person's functioning day to day.
Many factors contribute to the development of psychological illness. However, not everyone exposed to these factors becomes ill. Learn more about some common factors that contribute to mental illness on the tabs below.
Trauma
Learned Behavior
Genetics
Brain Injury
Emotional or physical trauma is an extreme event that threatens a person’s safety or life. War, abuse (verbal, emotional, sexual, or physical), assault, and bullying are examples of trauma. Repeated trauma or a tendency to remember and "relive" the traumatic event frequently can lead a person to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other forms of severe anxiety.
Children learn how to react emotionally by observing their parents. If a child's parents lack good coping skills, the child may be less able to express strong emotions in healthy ways. Similarly, if one or both parents are especially anxious or depressed, the children in the family may perceive the world as a fearful or gloomy place.
Besides what they observe and imitate, children may inherit a genetic predisposition for certain mental illnesses. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and some types of depression have been shown by scientific studies to have a strong genetic component.
Anything that causes physical injury to the brain has the potential to increase the risk for psychological illness. Brain tumors, recreational drugs, toxins such as pesticides or lead, and concussions can predispose people to mental illness.
