Is there anything I can do to avoid developing a mental disorder?

Is there anything I can do to avoid developing a mental disorder?

Christopher Reist (Academic Psychiatrist, Co-Author of “Psychiatry”) gives expert video advice on: Is there anything I can do to avoid developing a mental disorder? and more...

Nowadays, we understand mental illness to be inheritable in many cases, making it harder to try to avoid developing a mental disorder, as we cannot change our genes. Our inherited genetics make up a big part of the risk of developing mental illness. We also know that childhood development factors, such as wehther you were neglected or abused during critical periods in your childhood, can contribute to mental disorder later in life. If you want to avoid mental illness you should genetically screen your parents, and make sure you have a loving childhood. You can also currently take good care of your brain. That means avoiding substances such as drugs and alcohol and avoiding concussions or other kinds of blunt trauma which could result in something like <a href="http://www.videojug.com/interview/post-traumatic-stress-disorder">post traumatic stress</a>. Finally, taking good care of your body is important in avoiding developing a mental disorder. We know that untreated hypertension and diabetes are among some of the disorders that over long term impair your brain function and put you at risk from developing certain mental disorders.