While our society has made numerous medical breakthroughs, mental health still remains a very serious and complex issue. What falls under the umbrella of the title "mental health" is so vast that new discoveries are being made constantly. However, it is important to recognize that many "common" mental health issues have serious physical consequences.

In this day, anxiety is one such issue that seems to be more and more common. Anxiety is characterized by many symptoms, such as excessive worrying, intrusive thoughts and constant restlessness. On the physical side, anxiety can cause migraines, inability to sleep, nausea, and diarrhea. Another very common, and widely misunderstood, mental health issue is depression. Many people believe that those with depression can "snap out of it," but it is an illness. Physically, depression can cause everything from heart disease to substance abuse. Eating disorders are another type of mental illness that everyone has heard of, but most of us have a hard time understanding without actually experiencing it. Anorexia is when a person has an obsessive fear of gaining weight, to the point of starving themselves. They often exercise excessively and take diet pills on top of this, which eventually will deteriorate the body and the different systems will shut down. Bulimia is characterized by a cycle of binging and purging, which can start to erode tooth enamel and cause problems in the esophagus. While most people have usually placed these mental health issues with women, studies have shown that they are now occurring frequently in men.

Patients with mental health issues can often find relief through treatment. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with a speciality in psychology. She or he can prescribe medications to help alleviate brain chemical disturbances where that is the or one of the root causes of the patient's illness; as well as provide talk therapy. Psychologist's do not have a MD degree. They mainly concentrate on talk therapy or counseling; so they can not prescribe medicines. Often, psychologists work in tandem with a psychiatrist for patient's presenting with symptoms that could be diminished with medication. Some patients also find that talking things out or listening to the stories of others in a group therapy session to be helpful. Regardless of what's at hand or which treatment route a patient takes mental health problems should be treated just like any other health condition.