A laughing child runs through a field of prickly bushes, impaling his tender skin on thorns and brambles. The “cure” for this child’s condition comes in the form of antibiotic ointments, clean bandages and tender attention from an adult. A person with a mental illness or a behavior problem might need much more than a kiss on an owie in order to obtain a cure for the issues he/she faces each day. In fact, some of these conditions might not ever be cured, in the true sense of the word. Instead, for these people, the focus is on managing the issue, not eradicating it entirely.

Mental Illnesses

Some mental illnesses have arisen due to specific changes within DNA. Obtain one form of a gene, and mix that form with specific environmental factors, and the perfect recipe for depression, personality disorder or anxiety could all result. Since these conditions might have their roots within the genetic code, there’s the distant possibility that researchers will develop medications or other therapies that could target those alterations. For example, the National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that a cure for the mental illness schizophrenia seems possible within the next 10 years, due to specific advancements in scientific understanding of the disease. That’s certainly fantastic news, but it might not come as any help to people who have the disease right now and who need help now as a result.

Many mental illnesses can be controlled through a combination of medications and therapies. With this help, people with mental illnesses might go on to live long, full and happy lives, free of overt symptoms of their mental illnesses. The conditions might still be there, but the people might have the ability to keep those conditions confined to the background of their lives.

Behavior Problems

Difficulties with behavior can stem from a variety of causes, including:

• Substance abuse
• Mental illness
• Brain abnormalities
• Poor childhood instruction
• Hidden stress

Whether or not these conditions can be effectively treated and “cured” depends heavily on what is causing the symptoms to crop up in the first place. For example, some people who were exposed to alcohol while they were in utero develop fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), and conduct disorders are part and parcel of the challenges people with these conditions face. Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are no cures for people with FASDs. Instead, therapy provided early in life might be the best way to help people with these problems to learn how to behave appropriately. On the other hand, conduct disorders that stem from stress or substance abuse might resolve once the original trigger is removed. Much depends on the cause of the original problem.

In general, there are few quick fixes, when it comes to conditions that impact the mind and the way a person thinks and behaves. Often, the solution comes through hard work, patience and the care of a loving family. If you’d like to know more about getting help for someone you love, please contact us here at Axis. We’re happy to answer any questions you might have.