What is the difference between Mental Illness and Mental Disorder?

Mental disorder can be termed as a change in the way an individual thinks and feels, which takes its toll in impeding his ability to engage in his day-to-day activities. There are many different kinds of mental disorders, which include anxiety and depression, which are actually the most prominent conditions. A disorder is said to be valid when feelings and thoughts increasingly interrupt a person's normal functioning or pleasure. While mental illness, on the other hand, can be said to actually be directly similar to mental disorder.

The two terms are most times usually used interchangeably due to the fact that they tackle the same concepts. Illness is most times used to explain or define conditions, which includes schizophrenia, which has a strong biological basis but is not at all confirmatory. There are so many different concepts on mental disorders, and some of them are based on certain health behavior.

Being mentally ill, as opposed to having a mental disorder, is a close distinction. When you say someone is ill, it usually implies they are sick or non-functioning. There are also abnormalities in thought processes, mental state, and mood. A person who is mentally ill may or may not be treated by a psychiatrist who may or may not be prescribing certain medications to help with the illness. These are people who have difficulty maintaining interpersonal relationships and are often traumatized by an event or something that happened in their life, which rendered them disabled.

Mental disorder can be defined by a unique set of behaviors and is more defined. However, not all people who have mental disorders are mentally ill. People with a disorder are typically responding well to treatment and do not require constant supervision or hospitalization. They generally are on certain medications that control the disorder. Mental disorders are related to anxiety issues, phobias, panic disorders, and general depression.