Sometimes, but not always. Mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of intelligence, social class or income level. For more information on this topic, please refer to our links page.

Benzodiazepines may be useful, in low doses, for patients with schizophrenia who are beginning to show signs of relapse and may help to avoid the necessity of major increases in neuroleptic medication. They may also be useful in treating mania. See similar questions...

Mental illness is a health problem that can change the way a person thinks, feels, makes decisions, deals with others, or copes with everyday life. Someone with a mental illness may experience a number of problems that may make it difficult for them to lead a normal life. See similar questions...

Yes. Mental illness can strike anyone, no matter what age, race, or economic status. That is why it is important for people to know that mental illness is common and help is easily available. People with mental illnesses are not alone. See similar questions...

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, state and local government activities, public accommodations, public transportation, telecommunications, and public services. It was signed into law by President George Bush on July 26, 1990. Find out more... The information available on and through the NAMITexas. See similar questions...

There are many different reasons someone may have a mental illness. Mental illness could be caused by something physical, such as an injury to your head or an infection that attacks your brain. It could also by caused by your surroundings, for example if you have experienced abuse or another extremely upsetting event. For many other people, mental illness is caused by their genes. See similar questions...

Millions of people suffer various types of mental dis-ease. The National Institutes of Mental Health classifies mood disorders; panic disorders; agoraphobia; anxiety disorders; asperger's (ASD's) eating disorders; ADHD; suicide; schizophrenia; social phobias; alsheimers' and autism all under the umbrella of mental disorders. See similar questions...

My big brother, Tom, has challenges beyond my understanding. He struggles with schizoaffective disorder. Although I've never looked up his "diagnosis" in the official record of mental illnesses, the DSM, I know he has problems. I know this by his fixations on seemingly benign things that happened 20 years ago. Or the threats he might make from time to time to family members who love him. See similar questions...

Your family member has a right to treatment while in jail. Telling the sheriff, the jail nurse, the jail doctor, the lawyer and/or the judge that your family member needs medicine and what types of medicine are being taken may get results more quickly. For basic information about finding help when you are in trouble with the law, The Texas Appleseed project has produced a Handbook for Persons with Mental Illness and their Families which can be found on their website at: http://www. See similar questions...

When undergoing treatment, people with severe mental illnesses are no more dangerous than the general population. When untreated, this is no longer the case. There are approximately 1,000 homicides - among the estimated 20,000 total homicides in the U.S. - committed each year by people with untreated schizophrenia and manic-depressive illness. According to a 1994 Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report, "Murder in Families," 4. See similar questions...

Yes -- almost every mental illness has some form of treatment. For some it's medication, for others it's therapy; often, it's a combination of both. Different people may have different reactions to the same treatment, so sometimes people must try several different things before finding something that works. Not all kinds of mental illness can be permanently 'cured'; but almost all can be treated so that the person can live a happier and more productive life. See similar questions...

Mental retardation is not mental illness. Mental retardation refers to a person’s capability to think and reason. Mental illness is an emotional disturbance. There may be one occurrence or several which can develop at any time in a person’s life. Like anyone else, a person with mental retardation may become emotionally disturbed or mentally ill, but they are separate conditions. See similar questions...

Yes. A person can be admitted to a hospital on an "informal" voluntary basis or a "formal" voluntary basis. An "informal" voluntary process requires the person over the age of 18 to request treatment. The process can normally be done without the formal execution of any admission papers. A "formal" voluntary patient will execute an application for hospitalization and may be admitted if the director of the hospital determines that he/she is suitable for hospitalization. See similar questions...

The word "lucky" of course is not meant in the traditional sense. But I feel somewhat grateful that my brother is willing to take medication to improve his symptoms that come with his illness. For a great majority of people suffering from anxiety, depression, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, they might be unwilling to take medication to relieve symptoms. Dr. See similar questions...

Why, I wonder is it such a dirty little secret if we nurture our beings? You know the little twinge of guilt you feel telling your husband or wife you did something nurturing. I typically choose one type of activity that nurtures me like massage therapy, or lately my choice is Reiki therapy. Whatever it is, somehow I always feel slightly guilty and non deserving of basking my body and spirit in something which renews me. Sounds a bit crazy even as I type these words. See similar questions...