Mental health is a serious concern around the world, with many people struggling to maintain a healthy mental state. Unfortunately, with so many traumatic events taking place, this is often harder than ever before.
There’s been an unfortunate increase in mental health problems in Australia as well, and few people fully understand how to approach this type of situation when it arises.
From anxiety and depression to mood disorders and trauma-related conditions like PTSD, mental health problems affect thousands of Australians every year. Below, we’ll discuss some of the most common mental health issues, treatment options, and how The Dawn can help.
Types of Mental Health Problems in Australia
There are many different types of mental health problems in Australia. Each of them is different, and many require different treatment options than similar disorders. Below, we’ll give you a basic overview of the common problems and discuss some of the treatment options.
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are a diverse and far-reaching group of mental illnesses that likely affects more people than even the experts fully understand. The group encompasses a range that might include anything from excessive anger or sadness to something approaching complete apathy.
Types of Mood Disorders
As mentioned, mood disorders include a vast array of different conditions. This category includes all of the following:
- Major Depressive Disorder – Individuals who suffer from major depressive disorder may undergo bouts of depression consistently at any time. It is also characterized by persistent sadness.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – A type of disorder linked to the changing of the seasons. Sufferers of SAD generally become depressed in fall and winter but are often okay in spring and summer.
- Persistent Depressive Disorder – Persistent depressive disorder, or dysthymia, is a condition that’s characterized by the sufferer experiencing depression symptoms for extended times (often years at a time).
- Bipolar Disorders – Bipolar disorder comes in two different types. One is characterized by manic episodes, while the other is characterized by hypomania and depressive episodes.
- Adjustment Disorder – Significant life events can be unsettling. For people with adjustment disorder, however, their reaction is often disproportionate. Any significant event can have a marked and lasting impact on the lives of those with this disorder.
- Panic Disorder – Individuals with panic disorder easily start to panic. Frequent panic attacks are one of the most significant symptoms of this type of disorder. The panic attacks may feature additional symptoms like arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), shortness of breath, and even chest pain.
These are some of the most common types of mood disorders, but it isn’t a comprehensive list by any means. You may notice some overlap between this category and other disorders mentioned separately.
Largely, that’s because some mood disorders are significant enough to be considered severe mental health problems in Australia. We’ll cover them in greater detail elsewhere.
Symptoms of Mood Disorders
As you’ve seen, this is a complex group of mental health problems in Australia. The symptoms are as diverse as the disorders themselves, but we’ll list some of the most common symptoms here:
- Irritability
- A decrease in enjoyment when doing things you used to enjoy
- Inability to sleep or sleep well, alternatively sleeping too much
- Impaired ability to make decisions (often paired with guilt and shame about those decisions)
- Struggling to focus, or scattered trains of thought
- Hopelessness
- Low, or no self-esteem
- Loss of appetite, or excessive hunger
It’s essential to keep in mind that, even with severe symptoms, mood disorders are treatable.
Insomnia
Insomnia, or the inability to sleep, is a common symptom of mental health problems. It’s often induced by negative thoughts or feelings, like anxiety or depression. Fortunately, insomnia is highly treatable and can be practically eliminated.
Symptoms of Insomnia
Most people assume that insomnia is simply the inability to sleep. Unfortunately, it comes with a host of other symptoms as well, including the following:
- Struggling to fall asleep
- Waking up too early or too many times during the night
- Feeling tired when you wake up
- Being excessively sleepy during the day
- Struggling to concentrate or remember things
- Irritability
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders, as a category, include any type of disorder that affects the formation and day-to-day effects of our personalities. There are many different types of personality disorders, and these are some of the more destructive mental health disorders in Australia.
Types of Personality Disorders
Personality disorders come in many different types, but all of them can have a significant impact on individuals who suffer from them. Below, we’ll list some of the most common types and give a brief insight into what each one is.
To simplify the classifications, we’ll discuss them based on their most significant attributes. For instance, certain disorders can make individuals suspicious and untrusting. This grouping includes the following:
- Paranoid Personality Disorder – People with this problem suffer from a marked level of distrust for other people and sometimes things. They’ll naturally have a lack of trust, even toward the people they’re closest with. The severity of the suspicion and distrust may vary between individuals.
- Schizoid Personality Disorder – Individuals suffering from this disorder are generally withdrawn and often seen as aloof and distant. They have a hard time forming close relationships and connecting emotionally with other people.
- Schizotypal Personality Disorder – People suffering from schizotypal personality disorder are continuously tense, and often suffer from anxiety and paranoia. They often display eccentric or unusual behaviors and may have a hard time connecting to other people.
- Antisocial Personality Disorder – People with this disorder are prone to legal problems, mainly due to their lack of impulse control. They suffer from boredom quickly and may even be drawn to aggression and violence.
Some other types of personality disorders cause individuals to manifest emotional and impulsive tendencies. These include the following:
- Borderline Personality Disorder – Individuals suffering from borderline personality disorder suffer various symptoms, including mood swings, inclination toward self-harm, and impulsivity.
- Histrionic Personality Disorder – People living with histrionic personality disorder generally have a strong dependence on those around them. They have an intense need to be at the center of attention and are often overly dramatic or intensely emotional.
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder – Narcissistic personality disorder is an intensely destructive disorder that makes it difficult to maintain relationships. Individuals suffering from this problem often feel that they’re superior to, and more important than, those around them. Because of this, their decisions are often selfish and they easily take advantage of other people.
A third group of personality disorders makes individuals suffer from anxiety in different forms. These disorders are generally distinct from anxiety as a specific mental health disorder, though anxious personality disorders may partner with anxiety in other areas. Some of the personality disorders in this category include the following:
- Avoidant Personality Disorder – This type of disorder can be devastating to the individuals who suffer from it. They find themselves constantly battling feelings of inferiority and generally expect ridicule, belittlement, and disapproval from other people. This typically leads to self-imposed isolation.
- Dependent Personality Disorder – As the name suggests, people suffering from dependent personality disorder are constantly afraid of separation from the people they rely on. They also have little to no self-confidence, rely on others to make decisions for them, and are usually not assertive.
- Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder – This is possibly one of the best-known personality disorders. People suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder, or OCD, are often highly particular and extremely perfectionistic. They struggle to connect emotionally, set rigorously high standards for themselves and others, and have many obsessive behaviors which they either can’t control, or struggle to,
Symptoms of Personality Disorders
Personality disorders, like mood disorders, come in an entire spectrum of types and have a variety of symptoms. Some of them include the following:
- Inflexibility and inability to adapt
- Low self-esteem
- Feeling inadequate
- Being either withdrawn and distanced or needy and demanding
- Lack of decision-making inability
- Mood swings
- Impulsive behavior or lack of impulse control
- Entitlement, selfishness, and lack of regard for the feelings of others
- Phases of intense boredom or anger
- Consistent lack of trust
- Persistent anxiety
- Inappropriate reactions
- Violent or irrational behavior
- Avoiding close relationships
Though other symptoms may manifest as well, it’s important to remember that personality disorders are treatable.
Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders in Australia, affecting roughly one in every six Australians. It can be utterly debilitating, causing individuals to be too fearful or anxious to accomplish things they know they’d like to. It also compromises your ability to build meaningful relationships.
Symptoms of Anxiety
Since anxiety affects so many areas of life, it’s essential to get treatment as soon as possible. Some of the most prevalent symptoms include the following:
- An inability to relax
- Constantly feeling tense, nervous, or stressed
- Mentally replaying negative interactions
- Constantly thinking people are angry or upset at you
Anxiety may also manifest itself through physical symptoms, including:
- Stomach pain or unease
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Excessive Sweating
Fortunately, anxiety is highly treatable through techniques like comprehensive anxiety counseling and holistic wellness practices.
Depression
An estimated 2.1 million Australians suffer from depression, making it one of the most prevalent Australian mental health disorders. This type of disorder can be highly devastating since it utterly compromises the individual’s ability to function.
Not only does depression go with intense sadness, it also drains the individual of energy and the desire to do things. This can be absolutely devastating to the individual’s personal life and career. Additionally, since they often can’t reach a state of emotional equilibrium, depression can make it nearly impossible to build meaningful relationships.
Symptoms of Depression
The psychological symptoms of depression are by far the most severe and include the following:
- Feeling worthless or losing self-worth
- Having low or no energy levels
- Inability to sleep or sleeping too much
- Not wanting to eat, or eating to make yourself feel better
Depression may be a type of mental health problem, but it may manifest through physical symptoms, including physical pain and discomfort. Fortunately, we can successfully manage and treat depression.
PTSD and Trauma
It is estimated that roughly 12% of all Australians suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during their lifetimes. In other words, out of a population of 26 million, a little over three million people suffer from PTSD at some point. And that doesn’t even include the statistics for standard trauma.
PTSD is treatable. Unfortunately, trauma-related disorders like PTSD can haunt people for the rest of their lives if left untreated.
Symptoms of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder can manifest in different ways, including the following:
- Being hypervigilant
- Inability to sleep or disrupted sleep patterns
- Mood swings, irritability, and lessening of positive emotions
- Being excessively fearful
- Physical pain
- Feelings of shame, guilt, and fatigue
- Self-isolation or withdrawing from people
Symptoms of Trauma
Trauma, but not specifically as related to PTSD, has similar symptoms, but not always the same. Symptoms include the following:
- Denial (about the traumatic experience)
- Anxiety or depression
- Anger
- Low self-esteem
- Struggling to perform at work
- Difficulty maintaining relationships
Executive Burnout
Statistically, around 42% of Australians suffer from burnout. Burnout is when you no longer feel passionate about your job, instead feeling tired and maybe even unwell. It’s particularly common among executives and other people with demanding, high-stress jobs.
Unfortunately, executive burnout is fairly common. This is partially because people don’t acknowledge the problem when it’s still in its infancy. With vigilance and by knowing the symptoms, individuals can often avoid this problem entirely. On the other hand, executive burnout is treatable, with great success rates.
Symptoms of Executive Burnout
The symptoms of Executive burnout are generally quite similar to those of most other mental health problems in Australia and can easily turn into something more severe. Specifically, they include the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sleep disturbance and fatigue
- Physical pain and potential illness
Treatment Options for Mental Health Disorders
While dealing with mental health disorders in Australia is a daunting task, most of the disorders listed here are highly treatable. The key is to know which treatment options to practice and when.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the best treatment options for mental health problems.
Integrated Alternative Therapies
Some of the best ways to deal with mental health problems in Australia is through the use of alternative therapies. These types of treatments help to build new pathways in the individual’s brain.
In many cases, they also provide the person with a creative outlet, allowing them to deal productively with stressors that would otherwise cause serious problems.
Some excellent examples of alternative therapies include the following:
- Tension release exercises (TRE)
- Fitness exercises
- Art therapy
- Massage therapy
- Yoga and mindfulness exercises
Counseling and Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a useful tool for many conditions, including substance abuse disorders and mental health disorders. By using tools like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MCBT), trained professionals can help modify behaviors without the use of medication.
By pairing psychotherapy techniques with valuable counseling tools, Clinical professionals can get to the root of the issue. Once they identify the problem, they can target both the cause and the resulting mental patterns. This allows them to make a successful impact where it matters the most.
Trauma-Specific Treatment Options
Individuals suffering from trauma sometimes require a different therapeutic approach than those suffering from other mental health problems. Accordingly, there is a range of trauma-specific treatment options, including the following:
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) – Counseling sessions with a therapist specifically trained to deal with trauma. They can help discover and repair incorrect thought patterns about the traumatic events you’ve experienced. They also help you restructure existing mental pathways that don’t serve you.
- Trauma Resiliency Model Skills Building – Experts help you to reset your nervous system, which has been affected by trauma. Learn to track your nervous system responses and bring them back into balance using mindfulness-based techniques.
- Post Induction Therapy – Discover the experiences that lie at the root of your response to trauma, and deal with them. Often, many smaller traumas occur before the big traumatic event and contribute to its effects.
Mental Health Treatment at The Dawn Wellness Center and Rehab Thailand
The Dawn Rehab Thailand has much to recommend it for the treatment of mental health problems in Australia. While the facility isn’t located within Australia, that can be a good thing when dealing with mental health concerns. It’s often beneficial for individuals to get away from their usual environment when receiving rehabilitation and treatment.
The Dawn Rehab Thailand also has a fully trained team of professionals who can cater to your every need. This is especially true considering the facility’s policy about patients. We accept a maximum of 35 residents, ensuring that each patient has the opportunity to receive the individual attention that they so desperately need. In fact, we’re the only rehab center in Thailand that has a dedicated mental health program. Just a few of the treatment options we offer include the following:
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Comprehensive Cognitive Therapy
- Holistic Wellness Services
- Expert Depression Counseling
- Comprehensive Anxiety Counseling
Located in the beautiful Thai countryside, The Dawn Wellness Centre and Rehab Thailand is a short distance away from Chiang Mai’s city, and is surrounded by beautiful vistas. This makes it the ideal place to go when allowing your mind to heal.
If you feel that you’re one of the many individuals suffering from mental health problems in Australia, feel free to contact us today. We’d love to help you recover and rehabilitate you, through our mental health retreat, so you can look forward to a new dawn in your life.
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