Mental illness is a term that refers
collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders which cause severe
disturbances in thinking, feeling, relating and functional
behaviors.
These disorders
result in substantially diminished capacity for coping with the
ordinary demands of life.
Psychological
disabilities vary widely from mild depression or anxiety to
chronic situations such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Psychological
disabilities are true medical illnesses such as heart disease or
diabetes.
People with
severe psychological disabilities may have biochemical or structural neurological
differences
from people who are not exhibiting psychological
illnesses.