Washing your hands is a good thing - up to a point.
"Again, we all do some of these things but when it gets to the point that it interferes with functioning then we consider that crossing the border to a mental disorder," said Dr. Denis Mee Lee, psychiatrist at Castle Medical Center.
Mental illness or disorders can range from mild depression to full on panic attacks with accompanying physical symptoms like irregular heart beat and night sweats.
"And they deserve thorough medical, physical work-up as well. But often it boils down to the realization this is a panic disorder, not any less serious - in fact sometimes more challenging to treat - but treatable," Lee said.
The doctor is quick to point out - there is a difference between a mental disorder and one-time incidents...sadness at the loss of a loved one for example.
"The other kinds that have a biological, genetic basis to it generally are repetitive throughout life but can be controlled with medications," Lee said.
Mental illness is definitely treatable, according to the doctor. And progress has been made in that treatment.
"We're a lot further along than we were even 20, 30 years ago so that we have identified neuro-transmittic chemicals in the brain that seem to be related to a lot of these conditions," Lee said.
The doctor emphasizes the connection between a patient's mental and physical well-being. And the third component?
"Hopefulness and trust, faith in something that's very important to them, that spiritual component also contributes to better mental health so a real holistic approach to building every aspect of one's life more positively makes a big difference," Lee said.
