Question: Why do some people have physcolgical dieseas ?

Sarah Martin answered on 20 Jun 2012:

Hi blueeues1998,

That’s a really good question, and a really big one! The answer is that there are lots of different psychological diseases (that’s what you meant, right?), and each of them can have lots of different causes. If you want to know about a specific one, please ask again!

The main causes that can lead to mental ill health are:

Physical causes, which are biological in nature. Someone might inherit characteristic from their family through their genes which mean they are much more at risk than other people. It has also been found that people who have suffered head injuries can experience changes to their personality, and in some cases may begin to experience schizophrenia and psychotic type symptoms. What happens during pregnancy can have affect on how the baby’s brain develops. For example if a mother is taking drugs while she is pregnant, or if she gets a virus (like the flu). There have been reports that suggest vitamin and mineral deficiencies such as Vitamin D, zinc and certain fatty acids may also be related to our mental health.

But also things that are going on around us, and how we feel about them can have a big impact on our mental health.

The physical environment where we live can be very stressful, particularly when there are problems with neighbours, or if there are high crime rates and other such issues. Whether you enjoy your work, or feel you are under too much pressure, are unable to find employment or hold down a job, can all put pressure on your mental well-being. When we face difficult times our support networks become very important – those who do not have close friends or families, or those who do not live near the people who support them may find it increasingly difficult to cope alone. All these kinds of problems will increase the amount of stress people are under, and can cause depression and anxiety especially in situations where people don’t have a time or a place to relax.

People’s psychological state can influence their mental and emotional state, particularly if they are are coping with traumatic and abusive past or current experiences. Significant life events, like bereavement and divorce can impact on mental health. For example, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and in more extreme cases Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID – in the past referred to as multiple personality disorder) are all mental health conditions that are commonly found in people who have been abused.

For many people with mental health problems, it is not a single factor or type of factor that has led to the development of their problems. It is often the case that a series of events have occurred, that have eventually triggered mental illness.

Does that help?

🙂 Sarah