According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a persons thinking, feelings, moods, daily functioning, and ability to relate to other humans. Just as hypothyroidism is a disorder of the thyroid, mental illnesses are disorders of the mind. Mental illnesses often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the seemingly normal demands of life. These seemingly effortless actions we take as humans can be broken down into a series of complex chemical reactions that happen within our body. The following will explain the history of treating mental illnesses of the mind, how chemical imbalances create mental illness, and how psychological therapy can benefit the mind. .
Attempts to treat mental illness date back to as early as 5000 BCE as evidenced by the early discovery of surgically altered skulls by early Christians. (Porter 8) The early men of the Earth believed that mental illness was the result of spiritual of demonic possession, sorcery, or an angry deity. The men who unofficially titled themselves the doctors of their society would initiate a series of so-called treatments, one in particular called trephining. Trephining involved a hole being drilled into the skull using handmade stone instruments. It was definitely not a sterile procedure, as sterile technique was not implemented until the early 19th century. The theory behind trephining was through this opening the evil spirits-- thought to inhabit one's head and causing the mental illness-would be released and the individual would be cured. Some of the people who underwent this stone aged procedure survived, but most perished from infection due to lack of sterile instruments. Trephining did not prove to be effective in removing the so-called spirits and the technique did not last long. .
In brief contrast, modern day medical treatments for mental illnesses are much more successful.
My brain doesn't produce seratonin. ... The abnormality occurs in a gene known as human serotonin (5-HT) transporter gene (hSERT)... It is a chemical imbalance. ... Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance, too. ... Doctors said that my brain wasn't producing enough seratonin. ...
Studies into the chemical components and physiological aspects of the human brain have been looked at even centuries ago, with many believing it to be something science would never come to understand. ... Much research has been conducted in terms of effects of chemical and neurotransmitter imbalance that can result in mood change including depression, bi polar syndrome and other illnesses that affect a person psychologically and emotionally. ... Studies on human chemistry from the experience of love to the loss of love through heartbreak have also shown that the body reacts to these conditions...
Its true name is sucrose and its chemical formula is C12H22O11. ... Evidence in humans indicates that sugar can stimulate the reward and craving centers of the brain that are analogous in degree to those stimulated by addictive drugs (Ahmed et al). ... According to the American Heart Association, the human body does not require refined sugars to function properly but add superfluous calories and zero nutrients to foodstuffs. ... The difference between natural sugar as health promoting and refined sugar as health destroying is in its chemical formula (C12, H22, O11), which reveals that Carbon ...
The research attempting to develop treatment is to prevent said types of adrenalin from reaching the brain. ... Our country could turn into a whole race of emotionally lethargic humans. ... Personalities are so important to the existence of humans. ... If we could use this drug to alter a chemical imbalance that causes PTSD, could we also use it for other disorders caused by imbalanced chemicals or hormones? It is common for heterosexuals to claim that homosexuality is a chemical imbalance; that their hormones are disproportionate, which would cause them to be attracted to the sex opposit...
Biological factors include chemical messengers, hormonal imbalances, missing cells, and vitamin deficiencies and are believed to be a major cause of depression due to chemicals controlling the brain's functions. ... This statement is justified because serotonin is believed to keep humans from being a violent human. ... Hormonal imbalances are believed to be another biological factor that could cause depression. ... Certain cells provide serotonin to the brain. ... All B vitamins are very important in brain metabolism, brain growth, and proper mental function (Weaver 27). ...
Society therefore has a very strong influence on the actions and behaviour of a human being. ... -1- The biological make up and chemical balance in ones brain are said to be a contributing factors in suicidal behaviour. ... In the brain, there are natural antidepressants present, such as norepinephrine and serotonin. An imbalance of these chemicals could lead to depression, which in turn, could result in suicide. ... Biological predisposition and chemical imbalance can lead to such destructive behaviour as suicide. ...
The hospital began to bring about more human treatments. ... Within the encephal/o there are a cras/o of tri chemicals, which keep the ment/o functioning correctly. When one of those chemicals is depleted or nonexistent, irregularities occur which affect the production and release of hormones; along with imbalances in the ways the brain communicates with its self. ... The article "Health Guide A-Z"" states that "Those who suffer from it experience episodes of depression and mania; which may be caused from brain chemicals called neurotransmitters"" (1). ... The brain can also tested be throu...
Depression also affects the brain. ... The professor found a chromosome, named CREB1 that makes up .01% of the human genome. ... In addition to genetics, scientists have found that there is a connection between depression and a chemical imbalance in the brain. However, they are not sure whether other factors, such as stress, cause the imbalance or if the lack of that chemical makes the person more likely to experience depression. ... Serotonin is a very important chemical in the brain that regulates mood (LearnAboutDepression.com). ...
It is now treated with medications controlling excess brain chemicals. ... It is built mainly on the effects stress has on human behavior, however, most researchers agree that stress alone cannot be the main cause of schizophrenia. ... The Bio-Chemical Theory suggests that schizophrenia is caused by mixed up signals to the brain. ... If the signal does get mixed up on the way to the brain the make up of the impulse can undergo a chemical change resulting in abnormal thought processes and abnormal behavior. ... The brain is the most complex organ in the human body and an imbalance of the bra...
