Mental disorders affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern becomes a mental disorder when signs and symptoms affect your ability to function in day to day life, cause problems in your daily life, such as at work or in relationships, and make you miserable. In most cases, mental disorder can be managed with a combination of medications and counseling / psychotherapy.

• Genetics. Mental illness is more common in people whose biological family members also have a mental illness. Click here for more.
  
• Biology. Bodily disorders can sometimes cause mental disorders. Click here for more.
  
• Life experiences. Challenging life experiences , such as the loss of a loved one, financial problems and high stress, an upbringing leading to poor self-esteem or a history of sexual or physical abuse etc. can  lead to unhealthy patterns of thinking and trigger mental disorder.
  
• Body chemistry.  Naturally occurring brain chemicals called neurotransmitters play a role in causing mental disorders. Hormonal imbalances can affect mental health. Click here for more.
  

Signs and symptoms of mental illness vary, but mostly affect emotions, thoughts and behaviors and can sometimes appear as physical problems.

For signs and symptoms to watch out for, click here.

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