Introduction
A mental disorder is a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior. Examples of cognitive disturbances include anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar. These psychological problems are characterized by distress or impairment in key areas of functioning, lowering one’s quality of life. Therefore, psychological issues can lead to social isolation, complex relationships, and decreased sense of belonging, which are catalysts of ill-being.
Discussion
People across the globe are affected by psychiatric issues, which result in limited self-actualization. Ruggeri et al. explain that well-being “is a sustainable condition that allows the individual or population to develop and thrive” (1). Psychological issues interfere with life satisfaction by making an individual feel subjective in their environment and experience less pleasure (Dong 519). “Well-being has been linked to success at professional, personal, and interpersonal levels, with those individuals high in well-being exhibiting greater productivity in the workplace, more effective learning, increased creativity, more pro-social behaviors, and positive relationships” (Ruggeri et al. 1). Therefore, cognitive disorders can reduce an individual’s quality of life, affecting all aspects of well-being such as career, relationship, and educational achievement.
Many people are affected by cognitive issues, which make these disorders among the most suppressive. According to the world health Organization, “1 in every 8 people in the world live with a mental disorder” (para 1). This data reveals that many people are affected by psychiatric problems indicating an upward trend in newly reported cases of these ailments. The most common psychological disorders include anxiety and depression, considering that they are not easily detectable in the initial stages, especially among high-functioning individuals.
Anxiety is a psychological disorder that can affect the pattern of life, decreasing satisfaction. This disorder occurs when an individual experiences persistent worry and fear of every situation resulting in stress (World Health Organization para 2). In addition, anxiety may lead to social isolation due to the continuous sense of impending danger and panic. This situation may prevent an individual from experiencing good relations with people, affecting their well-being. Furthermore, this exclusion makes it hard for people to ask for help when needed due to overreliance on self-support, which results in a high level of suffering.
Another psychiatric issue is depression which affects an individual sense of belonging and psychosocial functioning. People who are depressed have signs of feeling sad and empty, resulting in less productivity in their engagements (Christensen et al. 280). These symptoms take a toll on an individual, resulting in significant setbacks in pleasure and fulfillment in their activities. That kind of life is not ideal, considering that it results in a loss of sense of belonging, especially when people cannot keep up with their peer’s pace (Christensen et al. 280). Depression reduces well-being by reducing happiness and increasing guilt which may make an individual feel worthless and develop intrusive thoughts of suicide.
Most mental disorders contribute to emotional factors, like guilt, anger, negative thinking, frustration, and fear which affect flexibility. A person who has not suffered a cognitive impairment maintains emotional intelligence, which helps them handle agitating and stressful situations without feeling excessive burnout. This situation is not the case for people with mental health illnesses, including schizophrenia. This disorder is a complicated, long-term psychological issue with a broad spectrum of symptoms, such as delusional thoughts, hallucinations, dissociative symptoms or behavior, and trouble with cognitive processes. As highlighted by Ganguly (166), “Individuals with schizophrenia are often unable to run their daily chores.” People who have schizophrenia are unable to fulfill their duties at work, home, and school, meaning they achieve less, making them more frustrated. This finding indicates that people affected with such illnesses lead a poor-quality lifestyle, considering that all the aspects of satisfaction in one’s life are restricted.
Bipolar disorder is a serious cognitive illness that affects how people relate and sustain relationships. Bipolar patients endure alternating cycles of depression and manic symptoms. Such persons are pleased one minute and sad the next, making social relations complex. Individuals’ energy levels, thoughts, and sleep patterns fluctuate, leading to extreme thoughts of suicide (Zakowicz et al. para 1). An individual suffering from the condition may abruptly experience mood changes during a meaningful encounter, such as an interview, resulting in a ruined reputation. This personality shift may have negative consequences, such as a loss of possibilities for a job or promotion, resulting in financial burden and a lower quality of life.
Conclusion
Mental health problems significantly impact all aspects, negatively influencing academic performance, relationships with others, and how people use the opportunities available. Depression and anxiety are two of the most common psychiatric problem. The ailments make it hard for people to establish long-lasting friendships, discover their full potential, and overcome solitude. Schizophrenia and bipolar are also psychological issues that reduce the quality of life by exerting guilt and changing personality and mood, affecting social life. All these symptoms can result in challenging relationships, decreased sense of belonging, and financial problems because of missed opportunities. Such impacts affect well-being by limiting satisfaction, actualization, and contentment, which promote life fulfillment.
Works Cited
Dong, Min, et al. “Quality of life in schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of comparative studies.”Psychiatric Quarterly, vol. 90, no. 3, 2019, pp. 519-532. Web.
Christensen, Michael Cronquist, Chiew Meng Johnny Wong, and Bernhard T. Baune. “Symptoms of major depressive disorder and their impact on psychosocial functioning in the different phases of the disease: do the perspectives of patients and healthcare providers differ?.”Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol, 11, 2020, p. 280. Web.
Ganguly, Pronab, Abdrabo Soliman, and Ahmed A. Moustafa. “Holistic management of schizophrenia symptoms using pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment.”Frontiers in public health vol. 6, 2018, p. 166. Web.
Ruggeri, Kai, et al. “Well-being is more than happiness and life satisfaction: a multidimensional analysis of 21 countries.”Health and quality of life outcomes, vol. 18, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1-16. Web.
World Health Organization. Mental disorders. 2022. Web.
Zakowicz, Przemysław, et al. “Impulsivity as a risk factor for suicide in bipolar disorder.”Frontiers in psychiatry vol. 12, 2021, p. 706933. Web.